Sinn Féin candidate Martin McGuinness tonight described his involvement in the presidential election campaign as "an experience of a lifetime".
Speaking as he arrived at Dublin Castle tonight, Mr McGuinness wished Michael D Higgins his warmest congratulations and said that he believed the Labour Party candidate would make "a great president".
Asked about his intervention regarding rival Seán Gallagher’s involvement in Fianna Fáil fundraising and the effect it had on the outcome of the election, Mr McGuinness said people were entitled to analyse how the campaign had ultimately played out.
“At the beginning they said it was a dull campaign and when I entered it they said it was electrified. So it was electrified at the beginning and electrified at the end,” he said. “All I’m satisfied with is that I have participated in a democratic process as a Derry man, as an Irish man and somebody who has contributed positively to political life on this island.”
Mr McGuinness said his third place showing was a great result for Sinn Féin and he was heartened to see the republican vote growing and the party moving forward.
“The brand of republicanism I represent is here and it is going from strength to strength and incrementally it will be built upon. So I think the future is very, very bright,” he said. “I think it’s fantastic that we continue to build for the future. It’s about hard work and hanging in there and not giving up. We’ve been struggling all our lives but the fruits of the struggle we have been involved in are coming to pass.”
Mr McGuinness said the treatment he received at the hands of his critics had been “an eye opener” for many people all over the Ireland.
“I'm not going to dwell on that today except to say I'm very happy that I was involved in the election. I expected that there would be critics – critics who have vested interests. But from my point of view, I have come through it.”
He said Fine Gael members were among his harshest critics but he had finished comfortably ahead of the candidate put forward by the largest party in the country. "I think that has to send all sorts of very important messages to those who are on a negative agenda."
On his plans for the future, Mr McGuinness said he would now go back to his work in the Northern Ireland Assembly.