{"id":65237,"date":"2025-09-15T10:21:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:21:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/65237\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T10:21:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:21:09","slug":"conor-mcgregor-withdraws-bid-for-nomination-to-contest-presidential-election-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/65237\/","title":{"rendered":"Conor McGregor withdraws bid for nomination to contest presidential election \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former MMA fighter Conor McGregor<\/a> has dropped his bid to contest the presidential election<\/a>, claiming the process is \u201cfixed\u201d. <\/p>\n

Mr McGregor was among a number of prospective candidates who were due to address county councils on Monday<\/a>. <\/p>\n

People who wish to enter the presidential election must get nominations from 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities. <\/p>\n

As of Monday, Mr McGregor had not secured any expressions of support from Oireachtas members or county councils and looked extremely unlikely to be able to secure a nomination. <\/p>\n

In a post on X<\/a> early on Monday, Mr McGregor said he was withdrawing.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Candidate profiles: Who are the hopefuls who want to be President?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time. While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here.<\/p>\n

\u201cI will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Muintir na h\u00c9ireann, a chairde Ghaeil,<\/p>\n

I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtar\u00e1in na h\u00c9ireann.<\/p>\n

I am a very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country. <\/p>\n

I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 15, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mr McGregor said he had been \u201csincere and genuine\u201d about his intentions to contest the election and had been \u201ctruly humbled\u201d by the \u201csupport and encouragement\u201d he had received.<\/p>\n

He claimed the election eligibility rules in Ireland\u2019s \u201coutdated constitution\u201d was a \u201cstraitjacket\u201d that prevented a \u201ctrue democratic presidential election being contested\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr McGregor claimed the constitution ensured the election was \u201cfixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot\u201d.<\/p>\n

Last year, Mr McGregor was ordered to pay Nikita Hand \u20ac250,000 in damages<\/a> after a High Court jury found he had assaulted her in a Dublin hotel.<\/p>\n

In July, he lost his appeal against the jury finding<\/a> in favour of Ms Hand, who sued him over alleged rape at the Beacon hotel on December 9th, 2018.<\/p>\n

Last week, T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris said Mr McGregor \u201crepresents the very worst of us\u201d and has \u201ca negligible chance\u201d of getting a nomination. \u201cConor McGregor is a person who has been found responsible for rape in a civil court in Ireland. That\u2019s a statement of fact,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Monday has been described as a \u201csuper primary\u201d day, with 11 councils due to hold special meetings to consider nominating a candidate.<\/a><\/p>\n

The councils will hear pitches from aspiring candidates hoping to gain a place on the presidential ticket. Most will vote after their meeting, although some, such as Kildare<\/a>, will defer their votes until the following week.<\/p>\n

Thirteen further councils have arranged for meetings to be held ahead of the final deadline for nominations on September 24th.<\/p>\n

Former minister Heather Humphreys is running for Fine Gael, while Fianna F\u00e1il has chosen former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin as its candidate. Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the third confirmed candidate. Sinn F\u00e9in is to decide next week whether or not to run a candidate. <\/p>\n