Potential face-off between Michael Flatley and Conor McGregor in Irish presidential contest
The Irish presidential race is heating up, with several high-profile figures expressing their intention to run for the office. Among the contenders are Michael Flatley, Conor McGregor, Barry McGuigan, Mairead McGuinness, and Catherine Connolly.
Currently serving President, Michael D Higgins, a Left-wing politician and a poet, has been in office since 2011. However, it remains unclear whether Flatley will have sufficient support for his presidential bid. Flatley, known for his dance spectaculars that have been seen by more than 60 million people in 60 countries and have grossed over $1 billion, recently notified the court of a "material change in circumstances" - that he was moving back to Ireland to run in its presidential elections.
In a surprising turn, Conor McGregor, the UFC fighter who declared his intention to run for president in March this year, is expected to struggle to clear the threshold necessary to qualify for the presidential race. McGregor has reinvented himself as an anti-immigrant populist, a move that may not sit well with the Irish electorate. Reports suggest that he may have withdrawn his candidacy before obtaining the required endorsements from at least 20 Oireachtas members or 4 local authorities.
Barry McGuigan, the former boxer, is another potential candidate for the Irish presidency. McGuigan, a Catholic Ulsterman with a Protestant wife, did much to unite communities in Northern Ireland. The former farming journalist and EU commissioner, Mairead McGuinness, is the Fine Gael nominee for the presidential race. McGuinness was deputy speaker of the European Parliament and an outspoken critic of Brexit.
Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Fein leader, is also speculated to join the presidential race in Ireland. Adams won £84,000 in a court case against the BBC after being accused of sanctioning the murder of a British agent. Catherine Connolly, a Left-wing independent and former Galway mayor, has received backing from opposition parties and independents to enter the presidential race.
The election for the Irish presidency must take place within 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on Nov 11. The riverdance star, Michael Flatley, expressed his concerns about the Irish people not having a "true proper deep voice that speaks their language". Meanwhile, Conor McGregor recently suggested that Ireland should leave the EU rather than fight a trade war with Donald Trump.
As the race for the Irish presidency unfolds, it remains to be seen who will emerge as the frontrunner and who will represent the voice of the Irish people.
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