Conor McGregor was photographed in New York City on Sunday night with his fiancée, Dee Devlin, just hours before he announced he was withdrawing from the race to become Ireland’s next president.
The couple were seen on a West Village terrace, appearing relaxed as they shared drinks, a public outing that came amid recent controversy after McGregor was photographed kissing a woman on a Florida beach. The images of the pair surfaced the same day McGregor posted that he was ending his campaign bid.
In a post on the social network X, McGregor said he was withdrawing "following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family." He called the decision "not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time" and said he had been "sincere and genuine" about his intentions.
McGregor, 37, said his venture into elected politics was not over. "While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here," he wrote, adding that he would "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 said Ireland’s presidential eligibility rules, enshrined in the constitution, acted as a "straitjacket" that prevented a fully open contest and alleged they were designed to ensure only "Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot." McGregor wrote that his candidacy had "catalysed a mobilisation for positive change in Ireland" and vowed to return to canvass in future elections.
McGregor had been due to address meetings of Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council on Monday in an attempt to secure the local authority nominations required to appear on the October 24 ballot. Under Irish law, a presidential candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or by at least four local authorities, and must be an Irish citizen over 35.
The former mixed martial arts champion’s political entry came after a high-profile civil case earlier this year. McGregor lost an appeal of a civil jury’s finding in favor of Dublin woman Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape in an incident alleged to have occurred in December 2018. A court awarded her damages, and McGregor was ordered to pay legal costs.
McGregor’s announcement left the field of candidates to continue jockeying for nominations. Former government minister Heather Humphreys is running for Fine Gael, Ex-Dublin Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin is the Fianna Fáil candidate, and independent Catherine Connolly has the backing of several smaller parties. Sinn Féin had not decided whether to run a candidate.
In his withdrawal statement McGregor said he would spend more time in the United States to "promote Irish jobs and politics" and to lobby for Ireland's interests internationally. He said the campaign had sparked a conversation about who can stand for the presidency and who decides which candidates appear on the ballot.
McGregor’s public profile remains high both for his sporting career and the legal and personal controversies that have accompanied his public life. He said his political ambitions were a "marathon, not a sprint," indicating he may seek office again despite stepping away from the current contest.