Conor McGregor is “unlikely” to have a civic reception in Dublin.
Following the 27 year old’s victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 197 last month, an online petition was set up to earn him an official homecoming in Dublin.
The petition soon gained thousand of signatures, prompting Dublin City Council to grant the reception, which was due to take place at the end of January.
“I am delighted to honour Conor McGregor, World Champion, in his home city of Dublin and acknowledge his wonderful achievement in the sport of UFC,” the Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaigh said.
“It was important for us to contact Conor and his management team before making any public or media announcements and to make sure that he would welcome the reception and also ascertain his availability.”
However, according to a report in The Sunday Times, Lynn Hunter, McGregor’s press agent, believes that public announcement put McGregor in “an awkward position.”
Hunter and Brendan Kenny, assistant chief executive Dublin City Council, have been reportedly been in correspondence and it is now “unlikely” McGregor will take up the offer.
“I understand that the lord mayor is under pressure to host such an event,” Hunter said.
“However, it should have not have been announced to the press without Conor McGregor’s agreement.”
The lord mayor’s office has issued an apology to McGregor’s agent, and disputed any suggestions the event was being staged for political gain.
“Please accept our reassurances that we did not mean to place Conor in a difficult position regarding this civic reception. The lord mayor is not a candidate in the upcoming election and in no way was she extending the invitation for any political reason.”
Maybe if McGregor defeats Rafael dos Anjos, at UFC 197 on March 5th, then the council could kill two birds with one stone and make him grand marshal of the St Patrick’s Day parade?
Whatever they do, maybe run it by McGregor first.
