Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has said 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 said the decision to withdraw his name 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, said: '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, expressed being 'truly humbled' by the 'support and encouragement' he received. He criticized the election's eligibility rules as a 'straitjacket' that prevented 'a true democratic presidential election being contested'.
For months, McGregor had been actively promoting his presidential ambitions on social media, but some commentators remained skeptical about his seriousness regarding the race.
Previously, McGregor faced legal challenges, including a civil jury appeal regarding allegations of sexual assault, which shed doubt on his suitability for public office. Most politicians in Ireland viewed him as unfit for the presidency due to his legal troubles.
Prospective presidential candidates have until 24 September to secure the necessary nominations. Currently, three candidates have emerged: Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, and Heather Humphreys, with Sinn Féin to announce its candidate soon.
