Conor McGregor has officially withdrawn from the upcoming Irish Presidential Election.

The former MMA fighter issued a lengthy statement on X, where he claimed he had secured the necessary support to contest the Presidency in the next few weeks.

He said he was stepping back from the race after “careful reflection” and consultation with his family.

Political editor of the Irish Times Pat Leahy said McGregor’s shot at the Áras was a “pipe dream”.

“Maybe it’s a little surprising that he should give up without even starting,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“He was due to address Dublin City Council this evening; he wouldn’t have gotten a nomination from them.

“But if you are an independent and you’re looking for Councils to support you, this is a big week.

“It’s a sort of a super Monday today, there’s 11 county councils meeting today and independent candidates that are serious about trying to get a nomination are travelling to a number of them.”

Maria Steen, an independent hopeful for a presidential nomination, speaking to reporters outside Leinster House, Dublin. Image: PA Images. Thursday September 11, 2025.

Candidates looking to run in the Irish Presidential Election must either be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.

According to Mr Leahy, it will be “very difficult” for independent candidates to achieve the necessary nominations.

“I just feel that the atmosphere towards independent candidates has changed a little bit, partly because of Conor McGregor’s now abandoned candidacy,” he said.

“But principally it’s because the big parties; certainly Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael - Sinn Féin we don’t know yet – they have their own candidates.

“The way elections work is that you tend to vote for your guy, and you vote against all the other guys.

“I just think the independents will find it hard to get over that.”

Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland, Phoenix Park, Dublin

However, Mr Leahy said that pharma entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan is in with a shot of getting a nomination from Kerry County Council today.

“Kerry County Council met last Monday to consider pitches from independent candidates,” he said.

“It deferred its vote until this morning and there’s some indications that Fianna Fáil and Labour Councillors in Kerry might abstain.

“That might let Gareth Sheridan get a nomination, but it’s going to be very difficult for him to get three others, and very difficult for other [candidates] as well.”

McGregor civil case

Last year, a jury found McGregor to be civilly liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in 2018.

He was ordered to pay her €250,000 in damages.

In July of this year, his appeal against the decision was rejected.

Main image: Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor speaks briefly to the media in the White House Press briefing Room in Washington, DC, USA. 17th Mar, 2025. Credit: Abaca Press/Alamy Live.