Conor McGregor announced he was withdrawing from Ireland’s presidential contest on Monday, saying after family reflection that contesting the October election was not the right course for him at this time but that he would continue a public campaign for Irish interests.
McGregor, a former mixed martial arts champion who had signalled his intention to seek a place on the October 24 ballot, wrote on the social platform X that he had been "sincere and genuine" about his plans and had been "truly humbled" by support. He said he had decided to withdraw after careful reflection and consultation with his family.
To appear on the presidential ballot a candidate must be nominated by 20 members of the Irish parliament or by at least four local authorities, and must be an Irish citizen aged over 35. McGregor had been due to address meetings of Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council on Monday in an effort to secure local authority nominations.
In his post, McGregor criticised Ireland’s constitution and electoral rules, calling them an "outdated constitution" that acted as a "straitjacket" on who could stand and asserting the system favoured "Establishment approved candidates." He said his expression of interest had catalysed a mobilisation for change and that the debate about who can stand and who gets to choose would continue.
McGregor also said his commitment to Ireland would continue outside the ballot, adding he planned to use his 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 that the withdrawal was not the end of his political ambitions and that he expected to contest future elections.
The announcement comes after McGregor earlier this year lost an appeal against a civil jury finding in favour of a Dublin woman, Nikita Hand, who accused him of rape in an incident alleged to have taken place in December 2018. A civil court awarded Hand nearly £216,000 in damages and ordered McGregor to pay about £1.1 million in legal costs after a trial in November.
Several candidates have already entered the race to succeed the outgoing president. Former government minister Heather Humphreys is the Fine Gael nominee and former Dublin Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin is representing Fianna Fáil. Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has secured backing from a number of smaller parties. Sinn Féin has not yet decided whether it will run a candidate, and other hopefuls are scheduled to address local authorities in the coming days as they seek the four nominations needed to reach the ballot.
The presidency in Ireland is a largely ceremonial office with a seven-year term. While the role does not wield executive power, it carries symbolic influence and responsibilities including representing the state abroad and signing legislation into law. The requirement that presidential candidates be nominated by national parliamentarians or local authorities has shaped several past contests and was central to McGregor's remarks about access to the ballot.
Political figures and parties are continuing preparations for the October poll. McGregor’s withdrawal removes a high-profile and controversial prospective candidate from the list of those seeking nominations, but his statement indicated he intends to remain an active and vocal presence in public life and future Irish political debates.