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‘Not a hope in hell’: Irish politicians roundly reject Conor McGregor’s presidential bid

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3 days ago

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Not one of 134 Irish politicians who replied to a Sky News survey would support Conor McGregor’s ambition to become the country’s president.

Comments ranged from “not a hope in hell” to “I could not think of anyone more unfit” and “I would genuinely rather we didn’t have a president at all”.

The former MMA champion, who is appealing a civil case in which a jury found that he raped a woman, needs significant backing before he would be allowed to stand.

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McGregor praises Trump and hits out at Irish PM

McGregor used a St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office to further his aim to run in the election, which must be held by November.

Days later he formally announced on social media he would seek election and stand on an anti-immigration platform.

Candidates must garner the support of 20 Oireachtas (parliament) members, or the backing of four of Ireland’s local authorities in order to stand.

There are 234 Oireachtas members: 174 TDs or members of the lower house, the Dail, and 60 senators.

Sky News asked each one if they would give McGregor a nomination. A total of 104 TDs and 30 senators replied.

Every one of the 134 politicians said they would not support McGregor running. None chose the “maybe” option.

Read more: Why McGregor has ‘close to zero chance’ of becoming Ireland’s next president

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‘Ireland and America are siblings’

Sky News asked: Would you nominate McGregor for a presidential candidate? Irish politicians answered:

“I consider him to be a tacky, moronic vulgarian. I would never consider him even remotely a suitable person for a nomination.” – Senator

“He’s a misogynist and a thug. On behalf of the women of Ireland he can f*** off.” – TD

“McGregor has become the cheerleader for misogyny in Ireland… a populist buffoon.” – Senator

“I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position.” – Garret Ahearn, Fine Gael senator

“I could not think of anyone more unfit for public office.” – Duncan Smith, Labour TD

“There is no evidence Mr McGregor has the necessary skillset for the role.” – Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fail TD

“There isn’t a snowball’s chance… he made a show of himself in Washington DC last week and with no elected mandate he certainly does not “speak for Irish people” when he travels overseas.” – Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fail TD

“Conor McGregor’s divisive behaviour and rhetoric would be completely unsuitable for such a role.” – Maeve O’Connell, Fine Gael TD

“As a mother of four young boys I have far more ambition for them than to have someone like that in a position of respectability.” – Erin McGreehan, Fianna Fail TD

Sky News has approached McGregor’s representative for comment on our findings. None has yet been received.

If McGregor chooses to pursue the council route to a nomination, he may not find it much easier, according to Gary Murphy, professor of politics at Dublin City University.

“The difficulty there is they are also dominated by the political parties. And so I think he would find this extremely difficult to actually get on the ballot.

“Now there is a big independent vote in Ireland, and maybe McGregor is targeting that, but the problem with that independent vote here in Ireland is that it’s very left wing and he’s not.”

Many don’t believe McGregor actually wants to be president

This is not an exhaustive or a very scientific poll, and several strong-willed independent politicians declined to give a view, despite repeated emails, calls and WhatsApps.

So it is still possible Conor McGregor could pick up a few nominations from the Oireachtas… should he ask.

But the 134-strong No camp – combined with the scathing replies we received – paints a picture of the strength of opposition to McGregor running.

That is of course, assuming he actually wants to be president. There are many who don’t believe he does.

Pretty much anyone can run in Irish general elections, and we had one of those a few short months ago.

McGregor was nowhere to be seen. But every time he posts about his political ambitions, he is lauded as the “Irish Trump” by a mostly American fanbase.

It could be a strategy to further burnish his reputation and brand in America, rather than a sincere desire to embrace a restrictive seven-year stint of often symbolic public service back home.

McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case in which a Dublin jury found he had raped a woman, Nikita Hand, in 2018 and ordered him to pay her damages. He also faces a civil case in Florida, where a woman claims he sexually assaulted her at a basketball game in Miami in 2023. His legal team says the allegation is “false”.

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