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.

Clearly I am a very strong, top-of-the-line, always-rising-to-it personage.

I am an ordinary person.

I want to say a very sincere thank you for this welcome home - it is a wonderful welcome home. It is the place to where I return and where I will always return because it is of Galway that I am.

Yes, I am an Irish lass through and through.

I am just an ordinary Catholic.