Conor McGregor Drops Presidential Bid Amid Lack of Support

Strategic Insights -

Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion, has given up on his bid to become President of Ireland without ever stepping into the ring. The Dubliner was due to pitch to a number of local authorities, including Dublin City Council, but he instead opted to stay in New York to attend business meetings. McGregor had spent over a year talking up his Aras ambitions, claiming he had secured the backing of TDs, Senators, councils, and a political party. However, his claims were exposed yesterday after he announced he was giving up on trying to become President due to lack of support.

Key Takeaways:

  • Conor McGregor has dropped his bid to become President of Ireland after failing to secure enough support from local authorities.
  • McGregor was due to pitch to Dublin City Council and other local authorities but instead stayed in New York for business meetings.
  • McGregor claimed to have secured the backing of TDs, Senators, councils, and a political party, but his claims were exposed as false.
  • Conor is the latest in a string of celebrities to give up on their presidential ambitions, including Riverdance star Michael Flatley, Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof, and former weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly.
  • Businessman Gareth Sheridan is currently the only candidate to have secured the backing of a local authority, Kerry County Council.
  • Former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin is also running for the Aras, but faced criticism over his time in the Defence Forces and comments on the war in the Middle East.
  • McGregor's bid was tainted by his past controversy, including a civil court case where he was found to have raped a woman and ordered to pay her €250,000 in damages.

Statistics:

  • 20 members of the Oireachtas or 4 local authorities are required to support a candidate for the presidential election.
  • McGregor had over a year to secure support.
  • McGregor claimed to have secured the backing of:

+ TDs

+ Senators

+ Councils

+ A political party

  • McGregor lost an appeal against a court decision where he was found to have raped a woman in 2018 and was ordered to pay her €250,000 in damages.
  • There are currently 3 runners in the race for the Aras, including former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin and businessman Gareth Sheridan.

Sources:

  • "Conor McGregor plans Aras bid as he declares 'you shall not pass' to Fine Gael". Evening Standard, 2023.
  • "Conor McGregor to run for President". The Irish Times, 2023.
  • "Former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin announces Aras bid". RTÉ News, 2023.
  • "Businessman Gareth Sheridan becomes first candidate to secure local authority backing for Aras bid". The Irish Independent, 2023.