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, said he was truly humbled by the support and encouragement he received.
He voiced concerns that the election's eligibility rules were a straitjacket preventing a true democratic presidential election from taking place.
For months, McGregor had previously shared ambitious posts on social media about his presidential aspirations.
Earlier this year, McGregor lost a civil jury appeal against findings of sexual assault, which he has denied. This, among other controversies, has led to significant skepticism regarding his candidacy among Irish politicians.
As the election looms closer, three candidates have already secured necessary nominations, with the deadline approaching for others to join the race.
