Dana looked relaxed. Derek Nally appeared visibly relieved. The curtain closed on all presidential nominations at noon yesterday with both candidates securing starring roles in that nailbiting drama, Race for the Aras.Dana and Mr Nally, the only independent candidates in the contest, had privately met the presidential returning officer, Mr Peter Greene, and Mr Justice Frederick Morris in the conference room at the Department of the Environment.It took just a few minutes for their nominations to be validated before friends, supporters and the world media filed into the room. Mr Greene read out the five names that would appear on the ballot paper on polling day, October 30th. "It's the highest point of my 60 years of existence," said a jovial Mr Nally as he was surrounded by well-wishers afterwards. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."Dana hugged and held hands with her family, friends and the county councillors who had supported her in her presidential bid. She was "genuinely delighted" that Mr Nally was through. "After all," she observed, "half the population of the country is male."Dana's husband, Damien Scallon, declared himself "delighted and excited" and "almost as nervous" as he was on his wedding day."We travelled a long road to get to this stage," he said. "Now Dana just has to go out there are meet the people."Before that, though, she had to meet the men and women of the press. Journalists from the UK, the US and Italy had travelled to Dublin to talk to the Eurovision winner and presidential candidate. The man from the BBC found the tables turned as he was interviewed briefly by Dana who plied him with questions about his background. "Give me five," she said laughing as she slapped the palm of the bemused journalist. Dana repeated the sentiments which appear to be at the core of her presidential manifesto: "While it is important that we have economic security, it is equally important that we have moral responsibility." She had "great hopes" for this country, she said.Asked how she would finance her campaign, she said that she had "never been a money person". "I always try to leave the money side to others," she said. Donations would only be accepted from individuals and not organisations. Her recent trip to New York had not been a fund-raising venture, she insisted.With her sparkling eyes and cropped hairstyle, Susan Stein bore an unmistakable resemblance to her sister.Dana had "27 years of business experience" behind her, she said, and was a "very intelligent young lady".Dana's mother, Mrs Sheila Brown, who was accompanied by four of her six children, looked on approvingly and talked about why she thought Dana would make a good president. "I am so proud of her. There was always something different about her as a child," she said. "She would never get involved in arguments. Never took sides. She was reared to respect other people, other denominations. She has it in her. She is fit to be president."