Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor announced on Monday that he was withdrawing from Ireland’s presidential election, insisting that his “commitment to Ireland does not end here”.
Nicknamed The Notorious, McGregor has become a prominent voice in Ireland’s anti-immigration movement. In March, he joined US President Donald Trump at the White House for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
His campaign, however, faced controversy. In November 2024, he was convicted in a civil rape case, and he is currently being sued in a US federal court over an alleged sexual assault in Miami in June 2023.
“Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race,” McGregor wrote on X.
He criticised Ireland’s electoral law, which requires backing from either 20 members of parliament or four local councils, calling it a “democratic deficit against the will of the Irish people”. He vowed that the movement of “Irish Patriots” determined to defend cultural and historical traditions “cannot be held back”.
Ireland votes on 24 October to choose a successor to Michael Higgins, who has served as president since 2011. Three candidates are confirmed: left-winger Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin of Fianna Fáil, and Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael.
Sinn Féin will decide on 20 September whether to run its own candidate or back Connolly, while several independents are still seeking endorsements ahead of the 24 September deadline.