Conor McGregor said he will seek Ireland’s presidency but faces a steep hurdle: he must secure nominations from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities by a Sept. 24 deadline in order to appear on the ballot.
The 37-year-old former mixed martial arts champion posted a video on Sept. 4 urging supporters to contact county councillors to nominate him, accusing the government of failing children and pointing to a rise in youth homelessness. “We have seen the homelessness of Irish children risen to levels unprecedented, proving this Government’s refusal to abide by and respect our proclamation where all children of Ireland are to be cherished. Instead, our children abandoned,” he said standing outside the gates of the Department of the Taoiseach in Dublin. McGregor addressed his roughly 46 million Instagram followers and about 10 million followers on X in the message.
McGregor has in recent years converted his public profile from a high-profile UFC fighter into a political presence that has drawn support from elements of the far right. He has publicly aligned himself with U.S. President Donald Trump and promoted anti-immigration views on social media. He has also faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse, a record that campaign opponents and commentators say will complicate any political bid.
Under Irish law, presidential candidates must be nominated by either 20 members of the Oireachtas — the combined membership of the Dáil and Seanad totals 234 — or by at least four of the country’s 31 local authorities. Independents who are not able to secure those endorsements can still be nominated if they obtain the signatures of 1,000 voters, though Timelines and practical barriers make that route difficult close to the nomination deadline.
The office of the president is largely ceremonial, with responsibilities that include representing the state at home and abroad, signing bills into law and exercising limited discretionary powers in times of political crisis. The term lasts seven years and is renewable once. Presidential campaigns in Ireland can attract intense media scrutiny, and potential candidates typically seek broad political or institutional backing to reach voters nationwide.
Analysts and political figures have said McGregor’s celebrity could draw attention and votes but noted the nomination requirement is designed to filter fringe or unserious candidacies. Securing the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four councils would require outreach to sitting politicians, many of whom are likely to weigh his controversies and public statements, as well as the largely ceremonial nature of the presidency, before offering endorsement.
McGregor rose to global fame in mixed martial arts and has long cultivated a combative public persona. In recent years he has engaged in high-profile disputes outside the ring and faced legal allegations that have been widely reported. His supporters point to his prominence and plainspoken style; critics highlight the allegations against him and the polarizing nature of some of his statements.
With the Sept. 24 nomination cutoff approaching, McGregor’s campaign call to action asks grassroots supporters to press local councillors for endorsements. If he fails to gather the requisite nominations, he will not appear on the presidential ballot. If he does secure nominations, the campaign would move into a formal electoral contest that would bring further scrutiny of his record, positions and suitability for a role that, while ceremonial, carries symbolic weight in Ireland’s political life.