McGuinness or McGregor? Irish Presidential Election 2025 Odds

The race for the Irish Presidency is hotting up, and with a certain big-name former MMA fighter in the running alongside all of the major political parties, could we be about to witness a new heavyweight entering onto the political canvas?

Speculation is currently rife on who will succeed President Michael D. Higgins. The main political parties have been taking what they have called 'temperature checks' in order to decide what candidates to put forward.

For the betting market, however, the most interesting candidates can be found in the independents category.

Although the main parties in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein will undoubtedly be putting candidates forward, those seen to be in with the best, and in some cases the most engaging campaigns, don't have the backing of any particular party at this stage.

The favourite is currently Frances Black, whose odds are currently sitting at 4/1 with Ladbrokes. The 64-year-old musician turned politician made history in 2016, becoming the first female Independent senator in Ireland.

Sitting at 9/2 is Mairead McGuinness. She was the former vice-president of the European Parliament, while having a vast and varied background in the world of finance both domestically and internationally.

One name that will be familiar to many reading this is Ex-MMA featherweight and lightweight champion of the world, Conor McGregor. The Dublin native currently sits at 20/1 with Coral, and has made his intentions to run no secret in recent weeks, and has even been to the White House in order to gauge the support of the US.

Other notable names on the list of candidates include former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who was instrumental in ending the Troubles in Northern Ireland. There is also comedian Tommy Tiernan, as well as current GAA President Jarlath Burns.