Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor at the White House: “What is going on in Ireland is a travesty”

It’s St Patrick’s Day and like every year, millions of Irish citizens will be celebrating their patron saint all over the world. It’s a time of enjoyment and festivity with traditional parades and meals, lots of music and dance with Guinness flowing freely. It’s the day when Irish people celebrate their homeland with pride - and in many ways it’s a communal celebration of life itself. A country known for the great hospitality and welcoming nature, everybody can take part - whoever you are, wherever you are from.

But during the past few years, it’s evident that things are changing on the Emerald Isle. Many of the new arrivals probably won’t be getting involved in the St Patrick’s Day festivities at all - not that they have to of course. But the demographics are certainly shifting and today, some parts of the country might seem unrecognizable to those who are Irish born and bred.

Conor McGregor has witnessed a marked change in his homeland and called for the situation to be addressed in an impassioned plea in at the White House briefing room today.

McGregor criticizes Ireland’s government

“What is going on in Ireland is a travesty,” he said. “Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability. You know, our money is being spent on overseas issues that is nothing to do with the Irish people. The illegal immigration racket is running ravage on the country. There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrrun in one swoop. That have become a minority in one swoop.

“So issues need to be addressed. And the 40 million Irish-Americans, as I said, need to hear this. Because, if not, there will be no place to come home and visit, to come back to their home. Ireland is potentially at the cusp of losing its Irishness. And I’m here to raise the issue and highlight it. It’s also St Patrick’s Day so a little bit of celebrations for sure. That’s it, that’s what I’m here for”.

The Republic of Ireland’s population currently stands at 5,292,453 - over a million more than 20 years ago, according to United Nations data. The country has welcomed around a quarter of a million new arrivals in the past three years, including around 107,000 Ukrainian refugees who have been granted temporary protection.

According to Irish government figures, 270,000 applications for entry into Ireland were processed in 2023 alone - 37% of those claims were from migrants from outside the EU or the United Kingdom.

Not everyone agreed with McGregor’s sentiments and no one knows the real figures when it comes to immigration, both legal and illegal and asylum seekers entering Ireland. But Notorious felt he had no option but to speak his mind.

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