The mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced his withdrawal from the race for the Irish presidency.
McGregor had been due to address meetings of Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council later on Monday in an attempt to get onto the ballot paper for October’s election.
To be eligible to run, a candidate must be nominated either by 20 members of the Irish parliament or by four local authorities. They must also be an Irish citizen over the age of 35.
The sportsman announced his decision in a post on social media.
“Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” he wrote. “This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.”
McGregor said he had been “sincere and genuine” about his intention to contest the election and had been “truly humbled” by the “support and encouragement” he had received.
He claimed election eligibility rules in Ireland’s “outdated constitution” were a “straitjacket” that prevented a “true democratic presidential election being contested”. McGregor said the constitution ensured the election was “fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot”.
“In a very short period, I have catalysed a mobilisation for positive change in Ireland against a malevolent political witch-hunt working together with the mainstream media supercharged Fake News. There is now a very visible and vocal movement of Irish Patriots reverting to our cultural and historical origins seeking to maintain and protect our way of life as Irish – to them I salute you. The current has changed and this tide cannot be held back!”
Earlier this year, McGregor lost his appeal against a civil jury’s finding in favour of Nikita Hand, a Dublin woman who accused him of rape.
Muintir na hÉireann, a chairde Ghaeil,
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 15, 2025
I recently announced my sincere and genuine intentions of running for the office of Uachtaráin na hÉireann.
I am a very passionate Gael and take great pride in our Country.
I have demonstrated this fighting Irish spirit on a world stage…
Ms Hand, 35, successfully sued him in a civil court over an incident in which he was alleged to have “brutally raped and battered” her in a penthouse at a south Dublin hotel in December 2018. She was awarded almost €250,000 in damages and McGregor was also ordered to pay about €1.3 million in legal costs after the trial last November.
In his post on X, McGregor insisted his venture into elected politics was not over.
“I 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,” he wrote.
“I want to assure the people of Ireland that this will not be my last election. You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation. This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey... This is a marathon. Not a sprint!”
Heather Humphreys, a former Irish government minister, is running for Fine Gael in the 24 October poll, and Jim Gavin, formerly the manager of the Dublin Gaelic football team, is the Fianna Fail candidate. Catherine Connolly, an independent candidate, has secured the backing of a number of smaller parties.
Sinn Féin has not yet decided if it will run a candidate in the election, while a range of other hopefuls will be addressing local authorities in the days ahead in an effort to secure the four nominations needed to get onto the ballot.
On Monday, the businessman Gareth Sheridan secured one nomination to become a presidential candidate from Kerry County Council.
Irish premier Micheál Martin said McGregor’s decision to abandon his presidential bid was a matter for him.
“Conor McGregor has made his decision. It’s a matter for Conor McGregor. I don’t really have any further comment to make on it,” he said, speaking in Cork ahead of his party’s think-in.
“I had a good canvas this morning with Jim Gavin in Cork... and we got a very good response.
“Many people, particularly the military community and so on, appreciate his role in peacekeeping and, of course, a lot of banter about the place in terms of the state of Cork football versus Dublin football, and a few Kerry people as well.
“So, my message to Kerry people and people who will be concerned about that is the safest thing to do is to elect Jim Gavin as president so he won’t go back to haunt you.”
Asked about a social media post from McGregor stating he was to meet the US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, about tariffs, he added: “The real action is obviously between, first of all, the European Union and the United States in respect of the trading relationship between the US and Europe.
“Obviously, we too have our bilateral engagements and the Tanaiste [Simon Harris] has met with Howard Lutnick. That’s the vehicle through which these issues will get negotiated.”
