Tributes have begun pouring in over the last 12 hours for an Taoiseach Enda Kenny, after he announced his retirement as Fine Gael leader yesterday evening.
Mr Kenny is asking for the election of his successor to be finalised, and announced by June 2nd.
He'll continue as Taoiseach until sometime next month, in order to let his successor have talks with other parties.
Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney are currently the frontrunners to succeed him.
Michael D'Arcy, Fine Gael TD for Wexford, pays his tributes to the former leader:
"I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic; I've known Enda all of my life.
"He was a good friend of my Dad's and spent time with us at our home in Wexford.
"It is the end of an era, the Kenny era. Enda has brought the party as far as he can and now there will be a new leader and a new Taoiseach.
"The process for the new leader has started, but I'm sure it will ramp up in the next coming days.
"I don't mind telling people, I've said it before, that I will be supporting Leo Varadkar."
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