In a lengthy post on X, one of the best-known fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) has again strongly suggested he may run for the Irish presidency.
Taking to the social media platform previously called Twitter, McGregor set out his goal, if elected, of using the powers of the Uachtarán na hÉireann to summon and dissolve the Dáil Éireann (the lower chamber of parliament).
While Ireland’s head of state has fewer powers than many executive presidents, the position is more than a ceremonial one—including leading the armed forces and, according to the English language version of the constitution, exercising the same power to dissolve the Dáil that McGregor promises to use if elected.
On the surface, McGregor would make an unlikely president. His MMA record involves winning 22 of his 28 professional fights, with 19 by knockout. While he lost his single fight as a professional boxer, it proved to be big at the box office. To date, McGregor’s profitable thespian antics look like a one-off.
Then there are his frequent legal and ongoing troubles, which involve allegations of sexual misconduct and unlicenced violence, trying the patience of the MMA’s ruling body, which is nevertheless reluctant to lose one of its biggest stars. Questions about his personal character—as distinct from him being a big ‘character’ in the sport—may well alienate some conservative Irish voters. Perhaps his sporting observation will also apply to a future career in politics: “There is no opponent… You’re against yourself.”
Nevertheless, these are extraordinary times. McGregor is tapping into growing public anger with an out-of-touch Dublin elite. His tweet called the Teachtaí Dála (TDs), the members of the principal chamber, of the Irish legislature
thieves of the working man, these disrupters of the family unit, these destructors of small businesses, and on and on and on! These charlatans…
TDs seem aloof from the two specific yet linked controversies that overshadow Irish politics. Crime and migration have driven recent protests and riots, with the official response being a growing emphasis on policing ‘hate’ on social media. As can be seen across Europe, the political class would rather spray around allegations of racism than grasp the nettle of the social problems facing citizens.
McGregor, in contrast, has used his large following on social media to castigate the new wave of violent crime, unrelated to the political violence of 20th century Ireland. He first positioned himself as a foe of this deteriorating situation on November 23rd last year, when he condemned the stabbing of a woman and three children in Dublin, declaring that “Ireland is at war.” He wrote, in a since-deleted tweet:
I do not condone last nights riots. I do not condone any attacks on our first responders in their line of duty. I do not condone looting and the damaging of shops. Last nights scenes achieved nothing toward fixing the issues we face. I do understand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast! I am in the process of arranging. Believe me I am way more tactical and I have backing. There will be change in Ireland, mark my words. The change needed. In the last month, innocent children stabbed leaving school. Ashling Murphy murdered. Two Sligo men decapitated. This is NOT Ireland’s future! If they do not act soon with their plan of action to ensure Ireland’s safety, I will.
Within a month, there was growing speculation about McGregor commencing a campaign for the presidency. Opinion polling at the time identified around just 8% of the electorate as his potential voters. Subsequent events have intensified the issue of mass migration in Ireland, making renewed indications that the man known as ‘the Notorious’ will run for President even more of a headache for the Irish establishment.
