Conor McGregor’s Presidential Bid Lacks Local Council Support

Conor McGregor’s ambitious claim of securing support for his presidential bid in Ireland has been met with skepticism. None of the country’s 31 local councils have issued nominations for any candidate ahead of the election scheduled for October 24, 2025. Despite McGregor’s assertion that he has “councils on board,” local authorities have confirmed that no special meetings have taken place to consider nominations.

Local councils across Ireland informed The Irish Mirror that the necessary meetings to nominate candidates could not occur until the official election date was announced. A total of 15 councils explicitly stated they had not received any communication from McGregor. The remaining councils either declined to comment or did not confirm whether they had been approached by the mixed martial arts star.

In a recent post on X, McGregor claimed to have garnered backing from local councils, TDs (Teachtaí Dála), and senators. He confidently stated, “I have it secured. I have councils on board. TD’s. Senators. I even have the most prestigious party of them all.” Nonetheless, none of the councils have verified such support, as the special meetings required for nominations have yet to be convened.

Local Councils Respond

The Irish Mirror reached out to all 31 local councils regarding McGregor’s nomination efforts. The responses were revealing: 15 councils confirmed they had not been contacted by McGregor, while 16 others refrained from providing a definitive answer. Among those that acknowledged no contact were Carlow County Council, Cavan County Council, Kerry County Council, and others.

Some councils have already scheduled their special meetings, with most aiming for completion by mid-September. These sessions typically allow candidates to present their manifestos and answer questions from council members. For a candidate to receive a nomination, they must have both a proposer and a seconder. If multiple candidates are proposed, a roll call vote is held to determine which candidate secures the council’s nomination.

As it stands, the only individuals actively seeking local council support appear to be multi-millionaire Gareth Sheridan and Nick Delehanty. Meanwhile, former RTÉ meteorologist Joanna Donnelly surprised many by announcing her intentions to contest the election and has reached out to all councils for their backing.

Current State of the Presidential Race

The race for the Irish presidency currently features two confirmed candidates: Independent Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. Additionally, a humorous entry has emerged in the form of a campaign for a wheelbarrow named Barry Wheely-Row, who has also requested nominations from various councils. The person behind this campaign describes Wheely-Row as “a true revolutionary with a handle on the left and a handle on the right.”

As the political landscape evolves leading up to the election, McGregor’s presidential aspirations remain uncertain. The local councils’ lack of support raises questions about his potential candidacy. Voter sentiment and the decisions made by local authorities will shape the future of this highly publicized bid.

With the election date approaching, the dynamics of the race will likely continue to shift as candidates vie for the necessary nominations.