Yesterday, it was reported that Conor McGregor had been installed as the odds on favourite for the RTE Sports Person of the Year.
Now, it is being proposed that McGregor be honoured by Dublin City Council. He's not everyone's cup of tea but for those that revelled in his Las Vegas success a Dublin homecoming would be yet another reason to celebrate an Irish sporting hero at the very top of his game. And it might just happen.
Independent councillor Mannix Flynn has proposed that McGregor be granted a civic reception from Dublin City Council. The idea was agreed upon by councillors in the South East area of the city.
Flynn told the Herald that he hoped McGregor received a hero's welcome following his victory.
It was a fantastic win and it's going to do an awful lot of good, not just for the sport and sport in general but also for the fitness for children - it'll do a huge amount of good.
Most councillors are supportive of the motion but some have misgivings about the manner in which Flynn has promoted the proposal.
Noel Rock, Fine Gael councillor for Ballymun, is fully behind the idea and doubts whether any councillor would oppose it. He suggested to Balls.ie that the proposal is 'bullet proof'.
I think Conor deserves something definitely... I think it's a good idea. We always need to reward and recognise our own when they do something of high achievement and this is definitely something of high achievement. I know some people who have their misgivings about UFC as a sport. I wouldn't have those personally. I think it takes a huge amount of dedication. My campaign manager used to be involved in MMA itself. He used to train with Cathal Pendred. So, I'd have no issue with that.
Labour's Mary Freehill, councillor for the Rathgar-Rathmines area, says she has no problem with a civic reception for McGregor but is annoyed that Flynn chose to promote his proposal so publicly. Typically, she says it would be Lord Mayor's prerogative to propose such an event. She is cynical of Flynn's motives in making the proposal so publicly.
I wouldn't have a problem with that (civic reception for McGregor). Essentially, that's a decision of the Lord Mayor. I though it was quite insensitive of him. Quite honestly, Mannix is more interested in publicity for himself than actually getting things done. There was a far more diplomatic way to go about that. To quietly go to the Lord Mayor and do you think it might be a good idea to do that. He mentioned it in the local meeting yesterday and I saw it in the Independent today and I thought he's achieved his objective.
Talking to Balls.ie, Mannix Flynn said that this objection was 'silly'.
That's ridiculous. There was a request put to the local area committee. The local area committee supported that. Councillor Freehill didn't mention that at the meeting. I just think this is like trying to turn a very positive thing into a negative thing. It's a silly, silly thing. It's as silly as saying the sport should be banned.
Here you have a genuine request for a civic reception and that the Lord Mayor congratulate Mr. Conor McGregor on his outstanding achievement. And you get a councillor turning it into a personal thing. That's silly. That's very, very silly.
The vast majority of councillors are in agreement with this... There's nothing exploitative or grandstanding publicity seeking about this. The press always looking in on these meetings. They saw the tapes and they rang me.
And I want Mr. McGregor honoured and recognised for his outstanding achievement.
Dublin City Council have confirmed to the Irish Examiner that 'no plans are in place' for a homecoming.
