Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced that he will not pursue a bid in next month’s Irish presidential election. His decision was made public on Monday, just before he was scheduled to address Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council meetings to secure the necessary nominations for ballot placement.
In a statement on social media, McGregor attributed his choice to withdraw to “careful reflection and consultation with my family.” The election is set for October 24, with three candidates already securing endorsements required from lawmakers or local authorities to participate.
Aspiring presidential candidates in Ireland must be at least 35 years old and are required to gain the support of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (the Irish parliament) or four of the nation’s 31 local authorities. McGregor, 37, who announced his intention to run last year, described his withdrawal as a challenging but appropriate decision.
He expressed gratitude for the encouragement he has received from supporters. However, he criticized the election’s eligibility requirements, referring to them as a “straitjacket” that hinders a genuinely democratic election process.
Earlier this year, McGregor faced legal challenges, including a civil jury appeal related to a sexual assault claim made against him, which he denied. Nikita Hand accused him of raping her in a Dublin hotel in 2018, and in November 2024, she successfully claimed damages against him in a civil case, with McGregor ordered to pay £206,000 plus costs.
Candidates have until September 24 to secure the necessary backing for the election. Currently, three contenders are in the running: Catherine Connolly, backed by several left-wing parties; Jim Gavin, representing Fianna Fáil; and Heather Humphreys, from the Fine Gael party, which is part of the current coalition government.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9rnv54jno?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss