Former UFC champion Conor McGregor is pursuing an unconventional strategy to secure his place on Ireland’s presidential ballot.
The Irish icon faces significant legal obstacles in his bid for the Áras. Current constitutional law mandates that presidential candidates must obtain backing from either at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities.
McGregor acknowledges this “presents a significant barrier to democratic participation,” arguing that the existing framework “inadvertently restricts the direct voice of the Irish electorate.”
Rather than accepting these limitations, McGregor has launched a dual-pronged approach. He’s actively seeking nominations from county councils across Ireland while simultaneously pushing for constitutional changes that would allow direct citizen participation in determining ballot candidates.
In a video statement recorded outside government buildings, McGregor delivered a critique of Ireland’s current leadership. He declared that “this government has cost us our peace of mind, our security, our hope for the future and the general well-being of Irish citizens nationwide has decreased dramatically.”
His sharpest criticism targeted the homelessness crisis, particularly affecting children, which he claimed has “risen to levels unprecedented,” proving the government’s “refusal to abide by and respect our proclamation in where all children of Ireland are to be cherished.”
McGregor joins an unusually diverse field of 34 individuals seeking local authority backing for presidential candidacy. This eclectic group includes businessman Gareth Sheridan, conservative barrister Maria Steen, former presidential candidate Peter Casey, and even a poet operating under the pseudonym “Barry Wheely-Row.”
The path to nomination through local councils presents formidable challenges. Fine Gael has directed its 246 councillors to block nominations for potential candidates, while Fianna Fáil representatives have been encouraged to support their own party nominee.
McGregor’s campaign strategy emphasizes grassroots democracy, calling upon citizens to contact their local county councillors to request nominations. He positions these local representatives as “the backbone of our communities” who “work harder and deliver more for the people than those in the Oireachtas, who continue to fail this country time and again.”
McGregor has also initiated a petition campaign aimed at modifying the nomination process entirely. He argues that Irish citizens should have the “unhindered right to determine the candidates who appear on the presidential ballot,” effectively bypassing established political gatekeepers.
The candidate’s governance philosophy centers on direct democracy. He promises that “under my tenure, I will not sign any bill in law until it goes back to the people first.”
Drawing heavily from Irish revolutionary tradition, McGregor’s rhetoric invokes the 1916 Proclamation and its authors. He quoted extensively from Padraig Pearse’s famous declaration, stating his intention to “return important articles of our constitution” and “declare the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies to be sovereign and indefeasible.”
His campaign platform addresses multiple domestic concerns, including what he describes as “an intense influx of mass migration into an already severed system,” declining tourism, and rising safety concerns.
However, McGregor’s candidacy faces practical hurdles beyond constitutional requirements. Westmeath County Council has already passed a motion explicitly stating that a nomination will not be forthcoming from their jurisdiction.
McGregor has submitted applications to various local authorities and is scheduled to address Dublin City Council. In his submission to councils, he argues that a nomination represents “not an endorsement” of his campaign but a “stand for democracy, fairness, and representation.”
The next presidential election must occur no later than 60 days before November 11, 2025, when current President Michael D. Higgins’ second term expires. Currently, only Independent TD Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys have secured confirmed ballot positions.
