Not one of the 134 Irish politicians asked whether they would support Conor McGregor’s bid to become Ireland’s next president replied in the affirmative—with many making their feelings brutally clear. Sky News contacted all 234 Oireachtas members—174 TDs and 60 senators—to ask whether they would give McGregor a nomination. A total of 104 TDs and 30 senators responded. Not a single one supported his candidacy, and none even selected the “maybe” option.
One unnamed TD said: “He’s a misogynist and a thug. On behalf of the women of Ireland he can f*** off.” Senator Malcolm Byrne said: “I consider him to be a tacky, moronic vulgarian. I would never consider him even remotely a suitable person for a nomination.” Senator Lisa Chambers said: “McGregor has become the cheerleader for misogyny in Ireland… a populist buffoon.”
McGregor, who is appealing a civil case in which a jury found that he raped a woman, formally declared his intention to run after a St Patrick’s Day visit to Donald Trump in Washington, where he lavished praise on the former US president and criticised Ireland’s leadership.
However, with politicians lining up to reject him, his chances look increasingly remote.
Fine Gael senator Garret Ahearn said: “I genuinely would struggle to think of anyone worse to hold that position.”
Labour TD Duncan Smith said: “I could not think of anyone more unfit for public office.”
Fianna Fail’s Malcolm Byrne said: “There is no evidence Mr McGregor has the necessary skillset for the role.”
McGregor’s Oval Office appearance, in which he told Mr Trump “Ireland loves you”, was met with derision back home.
Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe said: “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.”
Fine Gael TD Maeve O’Connell said: “Conor McGregor’s divisive behaviour and rhetoric would be completely unsuitable for such a role.”
Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan said: “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.”
McGregor, however, remains defiant about his prospects of succeeding Michael Higgins as Ireland’s head of state.
He said: “I will win, make no mistake about that.”
He added: “The weak and spineless careerists in Irish politics fear the people’s voice.”
He continued: “I will run and I will win. The people are with me.”
But the numbers suggest otherwise. A December 2023 Ireland Thinks poll found that just 8% of voters would support McGregor, while 89% said they would not. Meanwhile, bookmakers Paddy Power have placed his odds at 50/1, making him an extreme outsider.
With the political establishment and public opinion seemingly against him, it remains to be seen whether McGregor can turn his bluster into a viable campaign—or if his presidential hopes are already dead in the water.