Offaly councillors reject call to nominate McGregor for Áras

By Rebekah O'Reilly

A number of Offaly councillors have vehemently rejected calls by a supporter of Conor McGregor to back the former MMA fighter’s campaign to get on the presidential ballot next month.

It comes as McGregor himself has also been approaching councils nationwide, including those in Roscommon, Leitrim, and Donegal, in hopes of securing the support needed for nomination in the presidential race.

Under Irish law, a candidate requires the backing of at least four county councils or 20 Oireachtas members to enter the contest.

The 37-year-old, who was found liable in a civil court case for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in 2018, and recently had his appeal against the decision dismissed in July, has become a highly controversial figure.

In an open letter emailed to Offaly councillors, which was also sent to local media, Caoimheann Ó Faoláin, from An Tulach Mhór, called on Offaly County Council to "take a stand to uphold the fundamental principles of democracy, and to endorse Conor McGregor’s nomination to be on the ballot for the upcoming Presidential election."

Mr Ó Faoláin included details of an online poll in which he said the Irish people had shown "immense" support for a McGregor candidacy.

"To block McGregor's nomination is not a neutral act — it is an attempt to silence the people before they have spoken. That is not democracy, it is the rejection of it," he stated.

Responding to Mr Ó Faoláin's email, Offaly councillors Neil Feighery, Noel Cribbin, and Aoife Masterson outlined their strong opposition to the idea of nominating McGregor for the role of President of Ireland.

Cllr Feighery said he had “no intention” of giving McGregor his democratic endorsement, adding he had “a duty to the values and principles of the good people of Offaly who elected me.”

A similar view was expressed by Cllr Noel Cribbin, who said of McGregor: "I certainly will not support a person of this calibre to be our next president.”

Cllr Masterson echoed those same sentiments, and expressed solidarity with Ms Hand, who was awarded damages after bringing the civil case.

“Let me be unequivocal in stating that I will not be supporting the nomination of Mr McGregor,” she said.

“My only regret is that Mr McGregor’s failure to seek nomination from Offaly County Council means I will not have an opportunity to convey this refusal and my reasons for it directly to him.”

In a later email, the Sinn Féin representative added that she felt McGregor was “entirely unworthy of nomination for president.”