Conor McGregor, the mixed martial arts star, has announced he will not be pursuing a bid in next month’s Irish presidential election.
The announcement, made on Monday, came just hours before he was scheduled to appear before Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council to seek the nominations required to secure a spot on the ballot.
Sharing the news on social media, McGregor explained that his withdrawal followed “careful consideration and discussions with my family.”
Ireland is set to vote on 24 October, with three contenders so far having secured the necessary support from lawmakers or local councils to enter the presidential race.
To run for Ireland’s presidency, candidates must be Irish citizens at least 35 years old and secure support either from a minimum of 20 members of parliament, known as the Oireachtas, or from four of the country’s 31 local councils.
Conor McGregor, the former MMA champion who hasn’t fought professionally since July 2021, acknowledged: “This wasn’t an easy choice, but it’s the right decision for me at this time.”
At 37, McGregor had declared his presidential ambitions last year and expressed gratitude for the “encouragement and support” he received, saying he felt “deeply humbled.” He criticized the eligibility requirements, describing them as restrictive and preventing a “genuinely democratic contest.”
For several months, McGregor had promoted his political aspirations on social media to millions of followers, even releasing a video urging the public to press councillors to nominate him. However, he skipped opportunities to present his case before the first councils reviewing potential candidates, prompting speculation about whether he was truly committed to the campaign.
Though his name initially appeared on the list of hopefuls due to address Dublin City and Kildare County Councils on Monday, he withdrew before having to answer questions in a public setting.
His candidacy was also overshadowed by legal troubles. Earlier this year, McGregor failed in a civil jury appeal against a ruling that he had sexually assaulted a woman in Dublin in 2018, a claim he has consistently denied. In November 2024, Nikita Hand won her civil case for damages, with the court ordering McGregor to pay £206,000 plus legal costs.
Most Irish politicians who commented on his potential run argued he was unsuitable for the presidency and doubted he would ever qualify for the ballot, often citing his ongoing legal controversies.
Those seeking to run for the Irish presidency have until 24 September to gather the required endorsements, with three contenders already securing their places on the ballot.
Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has received support from several left-leaning parties, including Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit.
Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin is representing Fianna Fáil, the largest party in the Irish parliament and currently led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Heather Humphreys is standing for Fine Gael, the centre-right party that shares power in coalition with Fianna Fáil.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin, the main opposition in Dublin and the dominant party across Northern Ireland, is expected to announce on 20 September whether it will put forward its own candidate.
English