President-elect Mary McAleese promised last night to be a President for all the people during her acceptance speech when the results of the second and final count were announced in Dublin Castle.
"The campaign is now over," she told a packed St Patrick's Hall. "I will be a President, I believe, as I want to be, for all the people - for those who voted for me, for those who voted for my fellow candidates and for those who didn't vote at all."
She said the nation was set to share in a great adventure as we approached the new millennium, during which Ireland would be a key player, not just on the European stage, but globally. We were a nation now very much in our stride and she hoped we would share the adventure ahead "in real and lasting peace".
"I look forward in the next seven years to working in partnership with you the people of this wonderful nation."
Mrs McAleese also paid tribute to the four "very fine candidates" who had contested the election with her and who represented a broad spectrum of lives and careers. "We treated each other with dignity and courtesy and respect throughout and I want to pay tribute to all of them. I can think of no better people to share of cup of tea with in the Aras than Mary, Adi, Derek and Dana."
She wished all four and their families well, particularly Ms Roche, who had earlier said she would be heading to Belarus with the Chernobyl Children's Project next week. The President-elect thanked her "long-suffering" director of elections, Mr Noel Dempsey, and her election agent, Mr Brian Lenihan, "to whom this night means so much".
The thank-you list also included the political parties who nominated her, Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats, and her campaign team with which she and her family had bonded to such an extent that they might have to be surgically separated. Journalists who had followed her campaign were also thanked for their "courtesy and patience".
Mrs McAleese was congratulated by the four candidates she defeated in the election. Mrs Mary Banotti said she was sure Mrs McAleese would be a "splendid President for Ireland", adding: "I can assure her that myself and al of my people wish her very well indeed".
Thanking her supporters, Mrs Banotti said people of no particular party had come together to back her campaign. She also paid tribute to all of the other candidates who had all been "splendid". They had all had good days and bad but ultimately that had all transcended them.
Mrs McAleese was facing a time when she could make a significant contribution to the country in years to come. It was a time of great importance, not least in terms of North-South relations and relationships with wider Europe.
She was sure the new President McAleese would be supportive of the many charitable organisations Mrs Banotti had herself been in contact with during her campaign. "God speed to Mary McAleese and to all the other candidates," she said.
Mr Derek Nally, who also paid tribute to his fellow candidates, said the campaign had been a wonderful experience, "if perhaps an expensive" one.
Ms Adi Roche congratulated Mrs McAleese and looked forward to meeting her in a different capacity when she returned to her position as executive director with the Chernobyl Children's Project.
"I can hardly believe I am here," said Dana Rosemary Scallon, adding that she knew many in the audience were equally surprised. Reflecting on her experiences during the campaign, she said: "We truly have the best country in the world and we have the best people". She also congratulated Mrs McAleese.
