BoyleSports Blog | Conor McGregor Next President of Ireland Odds

Conor McGregor has conquered the UFC, built a global brand, and now it appears his attention has turned to the political realm.

The MMA star publicly declared his intention to run for the presidency of Ireland on March 20th. The announcement comes in the wake of his St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House to speak with US President Donald Trump.

He has stated that ‘illegal immigration’ into Ireland is his biggest concern and has consistently aligned himself with anti-immigration sentiments on social media platform X.

So, what are the odds of Conor McGregor becoming the next President of Ireland? What are the requirements for being the President of Ireland? And does he have a realistic chance of being the next person to occupy the residence of Áras an Uachtaráin? Find out below.

Conor McGregor Next President of Ireland Odds

Conor McGregor is 16/1 to be the next President of Ireland. Those odds imply that McGregor has a 5.9% chance of winning the upcoming Irish Presidential Election.

With Michael D. Higgins finishing his second and final term as President, Ireland will elect a new head of state in 2025.

Does Conor McGregor Meet The Requirements To Become President of Ireland?

The Irish presidency is largely a ceremonial role, but it still requires a candidate to meet certain requirements.

Here are the four requirements a candidate must meet to become the President of Ireland.

1. Age: The candidate must be at least 35 years old. McGregor, at 36, meets this requirement.

2. Citizenship: The candidate must be an Irish citizen. Conor McGregor, a native of Dublin who was raised in Crumlin, is an Irish citizen and so meets this requirement.

3. Nomination: The candidate must be nominated by one of the following:

At least 20 members of the Oireachtas (TDs or Senators).
At least 4 county or city councils.
Self-Nomination: Incumbent or former presidents can nominate themselves for re-election.

McGregor might find it difficult to drum up the support from TDs and Senators or regional councils, which he will need to run for President. He is, of course, not a former president, so he will not be able to nominate himself.

Next President of Ireland Favourites & Contenders

There are a number of notable names that McGregor will have to beat out if he is to assume the office of Irish President.

The current favourite for the position is Frances Black at odds of 4/1, an Independent Senator and singer. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is another name to keep an eye out for at 10/1.

Other big names in the betting include; comedian turned broadcaster Tommy Tiernan (16/1), current Taoiseach Micheál Martin (16/1), GAA President Jarlath Burns (25/1), who has had a controversial tenure to date, and Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald (28/1) who is unlikely to run for the office at this stage but would surely be a formidable candidate if she were to take up the challenge.

What Would a McGregor Presidency Look Like?

While the President of Ireland doesn’t create government policy, they represent the country on the world stage. Needless to say, they are a very important part of maintaining diplomatic relations between Ireland and the rest of the world.

McGregor’s outspoken personality and showmanship would make for a unique approach to the role.

The Verdict: A Real Contender For The Áras?

McGregor is clearly a divisive figure in Irish society. Since he entered the public consciousness, he has always had plenty of ardent admirers along with no end of critics.

He has aligned himself closely with Donald Trump in terms of his anti-immigration rhetoric and his recent appearance at the White House. If he is to be successful in his bid to become the next President of Ireland, he will need to emulate the path of Trump, who successfully made the move from the world of celebrity to the political office.

The MMA legend has a lot of the qualities of the current US President too. He is outspoken, charismatic, and always in the headlines.

As of now, however, it seems unlikely that McGregor will be able to draw up the support in the political arena that he needs to be nominated to run for office. And even if he can, it doesn't feel like he is a very popular figure in Irish society at the moment, especially after the result of his highly publicised recent court case.