The Irish Presidential Debate: The Absence of Celebrity Candidates Explained
Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, the Taoiseach (the head of the Irish Government) presents the US President with a bowl of Shamrock to commemorate the relationship between the two countries. For St. Patrick’s Day in 2025, the Taoiseach was invited to the White House on March 12th as Donald Trump had another Irish guest booked in for the 17th: MMA fighter Conor McGregor. The significance of foregoing an elected Irish politician in favour of McGregor could be dismissed if McGregor was considered a positive representative or a unifying sports figure for Ireland. However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was ‘not impressed’ when he saw that McGregor in the White House, saying that McGregor does not represent Ireland. Martin further warned that McGregor’s anti-immigration views are dangerous and do not reflect the views of Irish people.
The meeting between McGregor and President Trump could be considered a hard launch of McGregor’s campaign to be the next Irish President. McGregor announced his intention to run for the position shortly after his visit to the White House. Despite his growing following and becoming a leading figure of the far-right movement in Ireland, McGregor’s Presidential campaign faltered. The question remains; how did Donald Trump secure two terms as US President while being a ‘celebrity’ candidate whereas McGregor cannot even get on the ballot paper for the Irish Presidential Election?
McGregor is not the only Irish celebrity to express interest in contesting the 2025 Presidential election. Michael Flatley, the star of Riverdance and famed for promoting Irish dancing worldwide, sought a nomination for the Presidency in July. Boomtown Rats frontman and activist Bob Geldof was approached by Fianna Fáil, the largest party currently in the Dáil (Irish Parliament) to be their Presidential candidate. Celebrity candidates are not a new phenomenon, with examples such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronald Regan, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this infatuation has only briefly paused over Ireland.
Irish celebrity candidates for political office have largely originated from related fields such as journalism or have held senior positions in GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association; the organisation responsible for traditional Irish sports, associated with community and, previously, a sign of political resistance). The previous Irish Presidential election in 2018 saw three of the six candidates running be former Dragon’s Den judges. Despite this, and even a Eurovision Song Contest winner contesting the Presidential election in 1997, no celebrity candidate has ever held the office of President in Ireland.
While the position of President of Ireland is seen as largely ceremonial, all nine previous Presidents have held positions in office before their terms. Political endorsements and party affiliations have been predominant in past election cycles. McGregor’s often extremist politics have resulted in him having no endorsements or support from Irish elected officials. To be on the Irish Presidency ballot, candidates must be either nominated by twenty members of the Oireachtas (Irish Government that includes both the lower house, the Dáil, and the upper house, the Seanad) or by four local authorities (county or city councils). McGregor did not receive any nomination. Candidates must present themselves before a sitting of a local authority to ask for a nomination, which McGregor failed to do.
This is but one reason as to why McGregor’s Presidential campaign struggled to gain traction in comparison to Trump’s. Additional reasons include the lack of an organised far-right party in Ireland, McGregor’s support base being largely American, and his apparent lack of political knowledge. McGregor said that if elected President, he would hold referendums regarding immigration, which is something the Irish President cannot do.
McGregor’s failed Presidential bid highlighted just how unrealistic a controversial or celebrity President is in Ireland. The office of the President of Ireland is traditionally held in high esteem and has been held by past revolutionaries and prominent figures in Irish politics. The most recent Presidents have held left-leaning political stances, a trend that looks to continue with the current highest polling candidate being Catherine Connolly, a famously left-wing Independent.
McGregor could not capitalise on the same success and traction afforded to Trump, as both the systems that are structured around electing the President, combined with expectations for the role, prevented McGregor from becoming a serious candidate. McGregor’s campaign relied on targeting the right-wing movement and promoting anti-immigration legislation, two political pillars not compatible with the office of the President of Ireland.
McGregor’s visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day this year caused a stir in Irish politics, as this day is traditionally reserved for the Taoiseach’s visit. This visit was indicative of the reception of McGregor’s political career to come. His failed campaign sends a clear message: Ireland rejects celebrity candidates for President.
Image courtesy of The White House via Wikimedia Commons, ©2025. Some rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the wider St. Andrews Foreign Affairs Review team.
