Dana was determined to remain unruffled. Camera crews followed her every move, grey-haired supporters with tears in their eyes were saying they never thought they would see this day, but the reporter from local radio wanted to know about headage payments. Dana, it was suggested, would know nothing about headage payments.
With a soft voice and an expression of the utmost sincerity, Dana responded that all the headage payments in the world would be no good if you didn't have "a heart for the people". She was not saying she was an expert, but she would learn from the people.
The full spectrum of society mingled at the count centre in Bundoran. Many of Dana's supporters were sporting either holy medals or pioneer pins or both, while an associate of Luke "Ming" Flanagan wore a T-shirt proclaiming "Masturbating is not a crime".
If Dana's supporters looked like a group you would see on a flight to Medjugorje, Fianna Fail activists were showing their liberal side, with mutterings of a Knights of Colum banus network at play in the campaign and assertions that Dana would only bring the country "back 10 years".
It was a hard day for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to stomach. Despite a big effort, the cheers at the election of Pat The Cope Gallagher and Joe McCartin could not compare with the chants of "Dana, Dana" and the jubilation of her supporters as they lifted her shoulder high.
Only the very sore hummed "All Kinds of Everything" in the corners.
Marian Harkin's supporters, meanwhile, were finding it difficult to hide their annoyance at comments made during the election by some in the Dana camp, trying to insinuate she was pro-abortion.
Among the first to jump to her defence was the nun who is the principal of the Catholic school where Ms Harkin teaches. Tension between the two camps flared up yesterday morning in a brief verbal skirmish between Dana's mother and a member of the Harkin family, but the two candidates paid tribute to each other.
Most people at the count expected it would not be Ms Harkin's last election. Joe McCartin conceded that she had taught professional politicians some lessons on organising a campaign. The candidate herself said she wanted a few days' breathing space before making any decisions.
And "Ming" got the last word, taking his place with the top five candidates on the podium. He accused RTE of "interfering with the democratic process" by excluding him from election coverage and said the national broadcaster's attitude to Independents was "scandalous".