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| Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins set to win | Irish presidential election: Michael D Higgins set to win |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Labour Party's Michael D Higgins is to become the ninth Irish president after one of the most remarkable comebacks in the state's history. | The Labour Party's Michael D Higgins is to become the ninth Irish president after one of the most remarkable comebacks in the state's history. |
| The poet and campaigner received 701,101 first-preference votes - almost 40% of the total. | The poet and campaigner received 701,101 first-preference votes - almost 40% of the total. |
| His victory over one-time favourite Sean Gallagher was evident within an hour of the ballot boxes being opened. | His victory over one-time favourite Sean Gallagher was evident within an hour of the ballot boxes being opened. |
| Counting has resumed, however the other candidates admitted defeat on Friday night. | |
| Mr Higgins seized an unprecedented swing in support earlier this week after his biggest rival, independent candidate Mr Gallagher, was publicly derailed by Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness on live television. | Mr Higgins seized an unprecedented swing in support earlier this week after his biggest rival, independent candidate Mr Gallagher, was publicly derailed by Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness on live television. |
| Mr Gallagher, the opinion poll topper with a 15-point margin as recently as Sunday, saw his support vanish to 28% in a stunning defeat blamed on his links to Fianna Fail, the party most associated with Ireland's economic demise. | Mr Gallagher, the opinion poll topper with a 15-point margin as recently as Sunday, saw his support vanish to 28% in a stunning defeat blamed on his links to Fianna Fail, the party most associated with Ireland's economic demise. |
| Speaking on Friday night, the Irish president in waiting, Mr Higgins, 70, said his triumph was built on a left-leaning campaign while his seven-year term would be marked by inclusion, ideas and transformation. | Speaking on Friday night, the Irish president in waiting, Mr Higgins, 70, said his triumph was built on a left-leaning campaign while his seven-year term would be marked by inclusion, ideas and transformation. |
| "I'm very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while," he said. | "I'm very, very happy. It is something I prepared for, something I thought about for a long while," he said. |
| "I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of." | "I am very glad as well that it is a presidency built on a campaign that emphasised ideas. I hope it will be a presidency that will enable everybody to be part of and proud of." |
| In the end the Irish people decided they had had enough of living dangerously. | In the end the Irish people decided they had had enough of living dangerously. |
| After three years of political and financial turmoil, they chose the archetypal safe pair of hands - modest Michael D Higgins - to be their president. | After three years of political and financial turmoil, they chose the archetypal safe pair of hands - modest Michael D Higgins - to be their president. |
| They were not ready for ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, and not convinced by former Dragon's Den star Sean Gallagher. | They were not ready for ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness, and not convinced by former Dragon's Den star Sean Gallagher. |
| They were deemed too risky. In Higgins, they trusted. | They were deemed too risky. In Higgins, they trusted. |
| As one voter put it: "Michael is a statesman. His idea of danger is having an After Eight at 7.45." | As one voter put it: "Michael is a statesman. His idea of danger is having an After Eight at 7.45." |
| Mr Higgins will be inaugurated on Armistice Day, 11 November, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office. | Mr Higgins will be inaugurated on Armistice Day, 11 November, the day after current president Mary McAleese leaves office. |
| Mr Gallagher received 504,964 first-preference votes, while Mr McGuinness, Sinn Fein, came in third with 243,030 votes. | Mr Gallagher received 504,964 first-preference votes, while Mr McGuinness, Sinn Fein, came in third with 243,030 votes. |
| Independents Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated on the first count. Dana Rosemary Scallon received 51,220 votes and Mary Davis 48,657 votes. | Independents Dana Rosemary Scallon and Mary Davis were eliminated on the first count. Dana Rosemary Scallon received 51,220 votes and Mary Davis 48,657 votes. |
| Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell and the independent David Norris are battling for fourth place with 113,321 votes and 109,469 votes respectively. | Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell and the independent David Norris are battling for fourth place with 113,321 votes and 109,469 votes respectively. |
| The quota Mr Higgins has to reach is 885,882 votes. The count is expected to continue until Saturday afternoon with Mr Higgins receiving transfers from Mr Norris and Mr Mitchell to reach his goal. | The quota Mr Higgins has to reach is 885,882 votes. The count is expected to continue until Saturday afternoon with Mr Higgins receiving transfers from Mr Norris and Mr Mitchell to reach his goal. |
| Mr Higgins was an Irish MP for almost 25 years until he retired from the Dail earlier this year. He was Ireland's minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht during the 1990s. | Mr Higgins was an Irish MP for almost 25 years until he retired from the Dail earlier this year. He was Ireland's minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht during the 1990s. |
| The president, who serves as a ceremonial head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only once. | The president, who serves as a ceremonial head of state, is elected for a seven-year term and can be re-elected only once. |
| Support | Support |
| Mr Gallagher, a former member and fund-raiser for the Fianna Fail party, called the veteran politician to congratulate him on his success. | Mr Gallagher, a former member and fund-raiser for the Fianna Fail party, called the veteran politician to congratulate him on his success. |
| In a statement, Mr Gallagher said: "He will have my full support as president and I sincerely thank him for a positive campaign. | In a statement, Mr Gallagher said: "He will have my full support as president and I sincerely thank him for a positive campaign. |
| "His slogan stated that he would be a president to be proud of and I believe he will be that president." | "His slogan stated that he would be a president to be proud of and I believe he will be that president." |
| Mr McGuinness also phoned Mr Higgins to offer his congratulations. | Mr McGuinness also phoned Mr Higgins to offer his congratulations. |
| "He will make a fine president and I wish him well for his seven years in the Aras (presidential home)," he said. | "He will make a fine president and I wish him well for his seven years in the Aras (presidential home)," he said. |
| "I am delighted with the strong vote I have received. My message of positive leadership, patriotism and commitment clearly was resonating with tens of thousands of ordinary Irish people." | "I am delighted with the strong vote I have received. My message of positive leadership, patriotism and commitment clearly was resonating with tens of thousands of ordinary Irish people." |
| Other candidates in the election have also congratulated Mr Higgins. | Other candidates in the election have also congratulated Mr Higgins. |
| Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell said he would make "an excellent president," while Dana Rosemary Scallon wished him a "happy and successful" time in office. | Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell said he would make "an excellent president," while Dana Rosemary Scallon wished him a "happy and successful" time in office. |
| Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), Eamon Gilmore, congratulated his party colleague on his victory. | Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), Eamon Gilmore, congratulated his party colleague on his victory. |
| Mr Gilmore admitted it had looked like Mr Gallagher was poised for victory, until a televised debate on RTE earlier this week. | Mr Gilmore admitted it had looked like Mr Gallagher was poised for victory, until a televised debate on RTE earlier this week. |
| He was forced to deny claims by Mr McGuinness that he had raised money for the Fianna Fail party when it was in government in 2008. | He was forced to deny claims by Mr McGuinness that he had raised money for the Fianna Fail party when it was in government in 2008. |
| "That certainly made a big impact, but I think it was Sean Gallagher's response to the questions he was asked," added Mr Gilmore. | "That certainly made a big impact, but I think it was Sean Gallagher's response to the questions he was asked," added Mr Gilmore. |
| "I think there was a cumulative effect, which saw Sean Gallagher's vote dropping and going to Michael D Higgins." | "I think there was a cumulative effect, which saw Sean Gallagher's vote dropping and going to Michael D Higgins." |
| The Irish opposition leader Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail also sent his congratulations to Mr Higgins. | The Irish opposition leader Micheal Martin of Fianna Fail also sent his congratulations to Mr Higgins. |
| "I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland," he said. | "I have known Michael D Higgins for many years and he will make an excellent president and ambassador for Ireland," he said. |
| Fianna Fail chose not to enter a candidate following the party's heavy defeat in the general election. | Fianna Fail chose not to enter a candidate following the party's heavy defeat in the general election. |