Conor McGregor announced a bid for Ireland’s presidency in March 2025, but he did not become a candidate on the final ballot. He ended his nomination effort in September. Voting took place on October 24, and Catherine Connolly was inaugurated on November 11, 2025. This retrospective explains the announcement, nomination rules, withdrawal and Polymarket story, including the difference between an early prediction and the completed election.
The verified position
Conor McGregor for President: What Happened in 2025?
There was a real presidential ambition behind the headlines. There was also an important distinction between saying he wanted to run, seeking the necessary nominations and actually appearing on a ballot paper. McGregor reached the stage of publicly seeking support for nomination, then withdrew before the nomination process was completed.
The Presidential Returning Officer’s September 24 ruling named Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys as the nominated candidates. McGregor was not among them. The claim that he was standing in an election on November 11, 2025 therefore combines a genuine political announcement with an incorrect polling date and an outdated account of his status.
The election was on October 24, 2025. November 11, 2025 was Catherine Connolly’s inauguration, confirmed by the Office of the President.
For the sporting career that made McGregor internationally known, see our Conor McGregor record guide. The account here concerns the separate, completed 2025 political contest.
The March announcement
What Did McGregor Announce on March 20, 2025?
Contemporary reporting on March 20 described McGregor announcing his intention to seek the presidency on social media. The announcement followed his St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House and attracted attention well beyond MMA.
His stated position centred on opposition to the EU Migration Pact and a proposed public vote on the issue. Business Standard’s March 21 report documented that message and the political reaction. These were McGregor’s proposals, rather than changes already made to Irish policy.
The announcement was widely described as a presidential run, but it did not itself complete the formal nomination requirements. That distinction explains how someone could be discussed as a potential president in March and still be absent from the October ballot.
Getting onto the ballot
Why an Announcement Was Not a Presidential Nomination
The Electoral Commission’s guide explains that a prospective president must be an Irish citizen aged 35 or older. A new candidate needs nomination by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas—TDs or senators—or by at least four local authorities. Former or retiring presidents have a separate self-nomination route.
A declaration on social media, a large following or inclusion on a prediction platform does not substitute for those nominations. The official process determines whose name can be placed before voters.
On September 4, RTÉ reported McGregor asking the public to contact councillors and urge them to support his bid. He was seeking access to the ballot, rather than campaigning as someone already confirmed on it. The formal nomination window opened the following day and closed at noon on September 24.
The key dates
McGregor’s Presidential Bid: The 2025 Timeline
Reading the events in order separates the early announcement from the official election. Dates below identify what happened or what was reported at each stage.
| Date | Stage | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2025 | Announcement | Contemporary reporting describes McGregor’s presidential ambition. |
| September 4 | Nomination appeal | RTÉ reports his request for councillors’ support. |
| September 5 | Nominations open | The official nomination period begins at 10 a.m. |
| September 15 | Withdrawal reported | RTÉ reports that McGregor has ended his bid. |
| September 24 | Final nominations | Connolly, Gavin and Humphreys are declared nominated. |
| October 24 | Polling day | Voters elect Ireland’s next president. |
| October 25 | Result declared | The Returning Officer declares Catherine Connolly elected. |
| November 11 | Inauguration | Connolly takes office as Ireland’s tenth president. |
The September withdrawal and the later nomination ruling are especially important when checking an old headline. A March report can accurately describe his intention at that time while no longer describing the situation by polling day.
The bid ends
McGregor Withdrew Before the Final Candidate List
RTÉ reported the withdrawal on September 15, 2025. Its account said McGregor had been seeking local-authority nominations and had announced his decision after reflection and consultation with his family. He had been expected to address Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council in pursuit of support.
His withdrawal ended that attempt to secure a place in the 2025 contest. It was not the same as losing to another candidate in a public vote. No election vote total for McGregor appears in the official results because he was not on the ballot.
The distinction also prevents confusion with Jim Gavin. Gavin was formally nominated and later stopped campaigning, but his name remained on the ballot. McGregor never reached that final nominated-candidate position.
Polling day versus inauguration
Was Ireland’s Presidential Election on November 11, 2025?
No. Polling day was Friday, October 24, 2025. The government’s election-order announcement, published on September 3, specified that date and polling hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The November date should not be presented as a scheduled day of voting.
The distinction was obscured in some early summaries. McGregor’s March statement described an election taking place by November 11, rather than establishing that people would vote on that date. Polymarket’s published rules used similar deadline wording. A deadline mentioned before polling day was fixed is not an election timetable.
November 11 became the date of Connolly’s inauguration at Dublin Castle. The official inaugural speech records her taking office as Ireland’s tenth president. It was the culmination of the election, after the votes had been cast and the winner declared.
The prediction-market story
Conor McGregor on Polymarket: What the Market Does and Does Not Show
Polymarket did list McGregor in its Ireland Presidential Election market. The historical page now records his outcome as “No” and Connolly’s as “Yes”. Its election end date is October 24, 2025. It is a record of a completed event, rather than a newly opened contest.
Early market prices were estimates about a future outcome. They were not an opinion poll of Irish voters, a nomination certificate or a result. A person could appear as a possible outcome while still needing political backing to qualify for the ballot.
What About the 11% Chance and $38,453 Figure?
The early claim accompanying this story quoted more than $39,000 in overall activity, $38,453 associated with McGregor, and implied chances of 17% for Frances Black, 12% for Mairead McGuinness and 11% for McGregor. Those exact historical figures were not independently verified against a timestamped market record for this article. They are recorded here as claims being checked, not as established market statistics or current odds.
The amount displayed as trading volume must also be distinguished from the price attached to an outcome. A volume figure describes trading activity; it should not automatically be restated as a net amount wagered in support of a candidate. Neither measure tells us what share of Irish voters backed McGregor.
There is a further correction to the early description: McGuinness was a former European Commissioner by March 2025. The European Commission’s archived biography dates her commissioner term to 2020–2024. Black and McGuinness were not among the final three nominated candidates.
The completed election
Who Won Ireland’s 2025 Presidential Election?
Catherine Connolly won. The Presidential Returning Officer’s results record the following first-count totals. McGregor’s name is absent because he did not contest the public ballot.
| Candidate | First-count votes |
|---|---|
| Catherine Martina Ann Connolly | 914,143 |
| Heather Humphreys | 424,987 |
| Jim Gavin | 103,568 |
The official record gives a valid poll of 1,442,698. These are actual counted votes, which should be kept separate from the earlier Polymarket percentages. Associated Press’s election report also explains that Gavin’s name remained on the ballot despite his late withdrawal from the campaign.
Understanding the office
The Irish President’s Role
Ireland’s president is the head of state. The Office of the President’s constitutional guide describes functions including representing the country, appointing the Taoiseach on the nomination of Dáil Éireann, signing legislation and referring certain bills to the Supreme Court. Many powers are exercised on government advice.
Campaign language about changing policy therefore needs to be read alongside the powers of the office. Announcing a presidential ambition does not create authority to implement every proposal made during that announcement. This is another reason to distinguish a public statement from an official electoral or constitutional development.
Quick answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Conor McGregor run for President of Ireland in 2025?
He announced a presidential bid and sought support for nomination, but withdrew in September 2025. He was not one of the three formally nominated candidates and did not appear on the ballot.
When did McGregor announce his presidential bid?
Contemporary reporting dated March 20, 2025 described his social-media announcement. Reports the following day discussed his opposition to the EU Migration Pact and his proposed public vote on it.
Were the presidential elections held on November 11, 2025?
No. Voting took place on October 24, 2025. November 11 was the date Catherine Connolly was inaugurated as President of Ireland.
When did McGregor withdraw from the presidential race?
RTÉ reported his withdrawal on September 15, 2025, before the September 24 nomination deadline. He had been seeking local-authority nominations.
How many nominations did McGregor need?
A new presidential candidate needed support from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities. A social-media declaration or prediction-market listing did not satisfy that requirement.
Did Polymarket list Conor McGregor as a possible winner?
Yes. Polymarket included him in its Ireland Presidential Election market. The historical page now records his outcome as No, with Catherine Connolly recorded as Yes.
Was McGregor’s reported 11% Polymarket chance an opinion poll?
No. A prediction-market price is not a survey of Irish voters. The exact early 11% figure in the claim accompanying this story was not independently verified against a timestamped market record.
Were the $39,000 and $38,453 trading figures verified?
No. Those exact early figures could not be independently verified for the stated snapshot. Trading volume should also be distinguished from an outcome’s price and from a net amount wagered in support of a candidate.
Who won the 2025 Irish presidential election?
Catherine Connolly won. The official first count recorded 914,143 votes for Connolly, 424,987 for Heather Humphreys and 103,568 for Jim Gavin.
How many votes did Conor McGregor receive?
He had no candidate vote total in the official 2025 results because he was not on the ballot. His withdrawn nomination effort should not be described as an electoral defeat at the polls.
Editorial references
Sources and Verification
Researched November 10, 2026. This is a retrospective of the 2025 election. Official nomination, election and inauguration records establish the outcome. Contemporary reports establish the announcement and withdrawal. Unverified early market figures are labelled explicitly.
- The Big Lead: March 20 announcement; Business Standard: March 21 report.
- Electoral Commission: eligibility and nominations.
- RTÉ: nomination appeal, September 4; withdrawal reported September 15.
- Government election-order announcement; official ruling on nominations.
- Official election results; official inauguration record.
- Polymarket: completed election market and McGregor outcome.
- European Commission: McGuinness’s archived biography.
- AP: election outcome and Gavin’s ballot status; presidential constitutional role.
Explore McGregor’s other public work in our movies and TV guide and Greenback Records profile.