Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced he is no longer seeking to run in next month's Irish presidential election.
His announcement on Monday came hours before he was due to address meetings of Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council, where he was seeking to secure the nominations needed for his name to be on the ballot.
In a post on social media, McGregor stated that his decision had come following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family.
Ireland will head to the polls on 24 October, with three candidates so far having secured the backing needed from Irish lawmakers or local authorities to stand in the race.
Presidential hopefuls must be an Irish citizen aged 35 or older, and require the endorsement of at least 20 members of the Irish parliament, the Oireachtas, or four out of Ireland's 31 local authorities.
McGregor, a former champion fighter who has not competed professionally since July 2021, remarked: This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.
The 37-year-old, who first vowed to run for the presidency last year, stated he was truly humbled by the support and encouragement he received.
He criticized the election's eligibility rules, describing them as a straitjacket that hindered a true democratic presidential election.
Earlier this year, McGregor lost a civil jury appeal regarding accusations of sexual assault, which he denied. He was ordered to pay damages to his accuser, further complicating his eligibility and public image.
Candidates have until 24 September to secure necessary endorsements, with three having done so already: independent candidate Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin, and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
