Councillors in Waterford hoping to block Conor McGregor from seeking Waterford City & County Council’s backing in the presidential election will have no avenue to do so, as rules governing the nomination process require all eligible candidates to be heard once they have applied correctly.

Waterford City & County Council has confirmed that a Special Meeting will take place on Friday, September 19th, where nominees for the presidency will outline their case. Each candidate will be given a five-minute presentation slot, followed by a ten-minute Q&A session with councillors.

This procedure is set out under the Presidential Elections Act 1993 and the Constitution, which give prospective candidates the right to seek support from local authorities once they have met the application requirements. The closing date for submissions was 5pm on Friday, September 12th, 2025, and those who provided a passport copy, digital photograph, and manifesto will have their names published on Monday, September 15th.

Among the 15 candidates who applied is former MMA fighter Conor McGregor, whose candidacy has already proven controversial. McGregor has faced multiple legal issues, including arrests for assault and public order offences. In November 2024, he was found civilly liable for rape by the High Court, a verdict upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Despite this background, councillors cannot prevent him from presenting. As the Council explained, it is required to hold the Special Meeting to hear all eligible candidates. The authority may then choose to nominate one candidate, but it is under no obligation to nominate anyone at all. Importantly, if no nominee secures a majority in the Council vote, no nomination is made.

Metropolitan District Mayor, Councillor Adam Wyse (Fianna Fáil), has urged colleagues to deny McGregor any legitimacy – while party colleague Cllr. Jason Murphy told WLR he will walk out before being in the same room as McGregor.

“In my opinion, he should not even be considered for a presidential nomination. His record is one of violence, vulgarity and vanity, and the very idea of him as President is an insult to the Irish people,” said Cllr. Wyse.

“The Presidency is meant to embody dignity, compassion and respect. McGregor offers only chaos, controversy and a circus. Allowing him to use our chamber as a platform would be a mistake.”

Despite multiple objections, the local authority’s hands are tied. Once a valid application is received before the deadline, the candidate must be allowed to appear. Only after the Special Meeting can councillors vote on whether to grant the official nomination — and only one candidate can be chosen. Waterford City and County Council do not have to endorse a candidate.

The wider presidential race is scheduled for Friday, October 24th, 2025, when Ireland goes to the polls to elect a successor to President Michael D. Higgins. Nominations remain open nationally until 12 noon on September 24th.

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.