The Grand Lodge of Ireland has issued a formal apology after their historic hall in central Dublin was used as the backdrop for a controversial interview between sports figure Conor McGregor and American commentator Tucker Carlson.
Philip Daley, grand secretary of the Irish Masons, confirmed Monday that the organization regrets allowing its premises to be rented for the April 15 recording, which has since garnered over 1.4 million views on YouTube.
“If the participants and content had been known, the booking would not have been accepted,” Daley stated. “The Masons of Ireland categorically denies any association with the interviewer or interviewee and regrets that such an interview took place on our premises.”
The fraternal organization has pledged to donate the rental fee—estimated between $1,080-$2,160—to charity.
The elaborate Victorian setting of the Masons’ Hall, constructed in 1869, served as the setting for the 55-minute conversation in which McGregor discussed his criticisms of Irish immigration policies and hinted at a potential presidential run later this year.
Daley told RTÉ that organization officials only learned details about the event approximately an hour before it was scheduled. After deliberation among colleagues, they decided to allow it to proceed following assurances from Carlson’s production team that all backgrounds would be blurred and no reference made to the Masons’ Hall.
“In hindsight we’re not happy with that decision,” Daley admitted. “Look, we made a mistake, I put my hands up, fully admit that.”
The interview represents the latest collaboration between McGregor and prominent American conservative figures. Earlier this year, the former mixed martial arts champion was hosted by Donald Trump at the White House during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
During the interview, McGregor claimed a corrupt governing elite is facilitating the “erasure” of Irish people and their identity. He also expressed frustration about presidential candidacy rules, which require endorsement from either four county councils or 20 legislators.
Carlson did not question McGregor about a civil trial from November that found him liable for assaulting a woman at a Dublin hotel in 2018—a verdict the 36-year-old is currently appealing.
The Mason’s grand secretary made his organization’s position clear, stating: “I would not be a fan of Mr. McGregor under any circumstances.” He added that steps have been taken to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
