Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has admitted that "mathematically" his campaign has come to an end.
"We gave it our best shot. We got two nominations, really encouraging. We had a pathway, and unfortunately, the pathway and the plan didn't work out.
"I think it's important as well that to wish the candidates that are there on the ballot the best. We have an election coming now that I'll be part of on the other side, and I'll follow it closely, and that's where we are.
"It didn't work out for me this time," Mr Sheridan said.
Reflecting on his campaign outside County Hall in Tullamore, Mr Sheridan said he "wouldn't change a thing".
He said: "I mean one thing that I was really trying to push was encouraging younger people to get involved. And if I'm able to at least take that out of the process or encourage younger people to put their name forward for roles that historically don't deem to be suitable, I would deem the last couple of weeks as a success.
"We're trying to open the narrative, invite younger people into the conversation. If we start that narrative through the process over the last number of weeks, again, I think that's a good thing, and I would be proud of that.
"But again, we'll see how we go from this point. But yeah, I wouldn't change a thing. It was eye opening.
"It was great to meet so many new people, earn the trust and support of so many new people, and highlight issues that we've been trying to highlight, and I think we've been able to do that.
"So, I wouldn't change anything, the outcome wasn't what we wanted. [I'm] obviously devastated that we didn't get the four nominations. It would have been great but I wouldn't change anything during the process.
"[It has been] hard work but I think we have made a bit of a splash anyway," he added.
It comes after Offaly County Council voted not to nominate any potential candidate in the Presidential Election.
At a special meeting of the local authority this afternoon, Cathaoirleach and Independent councillor John Leahy put Mr Sheridan's name forward for the council's nomination.
This proposal was seconded by former Fianna Fáil councillor now Independent Eddie Fitzpatrick.
However, a counter-proposal for the council not to give its backing to any candidate was put forward by Fine Gael's Liam Quinn and seconded by his party colleague Noel Cribbin.
This counter-proposal was subsequently passed by 11 votes to five with two abesentions. One of the 19 councillors was absent.
Of the five councillors who voted against the counter-proposal and wanted to see Mr Sheridan go forward to take the council's nomination, one was from Fianna Fáil, one was from Sinn Féin and three were independents.
'Flawed system'
Meanwhile, Mr Leahy, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council and Independent councillor, described the process that Mr Sheridan went through as a "flawed system".
He said: "I think the debate now will turn in the name of Gareth Sheridan in terms of the block.
"He was a very credible candidate coming forward. He articulated the point very, very well in terms of the age profile. We have no candidate in the field now that is going to appeal to the younger voter.
"I suppose we look at it long term, we don't really have a process to get someone through now so the political parties really control the presidency at this point. And I don't think we are going to be thanked for that.
"I think a conversation in Gareth's name will continue on through the media and through the legislators going forward because if you want somebody who has the drive and ambition that Gareth has to put themselves forward in seven years, they will be advised very, very quickly what is the point. And that's not a democracy," he added.
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Mr Sheridan's campaign to get on the ballot paper suffered its first setback of the day in Navan this morning when Meath County Council voted not to nominate him by the slimmest of margins - 14 votes to 13.
These 13 votes in favour of Mr Sheridan getting the nomination came from two Sinn Féin councillors, one each from Fianna Fáil and Aontú, and nine independents.
This followed an earlier vote that indicated he might get the support of Meath County Council.
That earlier motion called on councillors not to give the local authority's nomination to any potential candidate and it was proposed by Fine Gael.
After much debate and some confusion, it was defeated by 15 votes to 11. Councillors then heard from seven potential candidates, including Mr Sheridan.
Independent councillor Carol Lennon then proposed putting forward Mr Sheridan for the council's nomination and this was seconded by fellow Independent councillor Geraldine Keogan.
However, the motion was defeated by 14 votes to 13 and no other potential candidate was put forward.
Earlier, Mr Sheridan told councillors in Meath that he would have "no ongoing role whatsoever" in his business interests should he be elected President of Ireland.
Mr Sheridan said: "If successful, I would have no ongoing role in the company whatsoever.
"I believe that the position of Uachtarán na hÉireann is a job and you don't have time for two jobs. It is an active job at that, and that's what I would like to bring to the role so I would be fully separated from the business that I started."
"I would certainly follow it [the business] with a pride in a sense but I would not be actively engaged in any sort of activity," he added.
Mr Sheridan already had the backing of Kerry and Tipperary county councils from last week but now he cannot get the required four nominations to get on the ballot paper for the Presidential Election that will be held on 24 October.
Cork, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo county councils today also voted not to nominate any prospective candidate.
Independent candidate Maria Steen needs the support of 20 TDs and senators
Elsewhere today, efforts to get barrister and campaigner, Maria Steen into the presidential race - via the Oireachtas route - have been ongoing.
The Independent candidate needs the support of 20 TDs and senators, and currently has the backing of 13.
Ms Steen met with the four-TD Independent Ireland group - which consists of Michael Collins, Richard O'Donoghue, Ken O'Flynn and Michael Fitzmaurice - this evening.
The party will hold a parliamentary party meeting tomorrow morning to decide on its position, with the deadline for nominations midday on Wednesday.
It is understood that a small number of Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members are also considering backing Ms Steen.
However, Minister of State Timmy Dooley told The Week In Politics that such a move would result in disciplinary action, and likely immediate expulsion from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
Their decision could influence whether other TDs or senators - rumoured to include a small number on the conservative wing of Fianna Fáil - would lend her their vote to Ms Steen.
The three candidates already officially in the presidential race - Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin, Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys and Independent Catherine Connolly - all continued their canvassing today, with Ms Connolly officially launching her campaign in Dublin tonight.
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