Since stepping out of the octagon, MMA fighter Conor McGregor has had his fair share of scrapes in the business world. The Irish fighter’s latest rumble though, might leave him with no option but to tap out.
McGregor’s plans to extend his hospitality footprint in the coastal Dublin village of Howth have been blocked by locals who are all too familiar with the former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion’s partying reputation.
G Boppers Ltd., a business owned by McGregor, was refused permission from Fingal County Council to build a 35-bedroom hotel in the quiet coastal town.
McGregor’s company had sought permission to demolish part of the Waterside Bar it already owns and build in its place a four-story hotel block. But as is usually the case with McGregor, controversy wasn’t far away, with his apparent passion for excess coming back to bite him.
Ibiza parties
Providing rationale for its refusal of the development, Fingal County Council said the hotel “would interfere with the character of the landscape or with a view or prospect of special amenity value or natural interest or beauty.”
The plans submitted by G Boppers would likely have brought a bit more buzz to the sleepy Howth town, a selling point that turned out to be its downfall. Developers planned to introduce a restaurant and a large roof terrace at the hotel.
A reportedly massive garden outside the five-floor terraced property raised alarm bells with locals. The council received 19 third-party submissions regarding the development.
In a letter to the council, local resident Monica Lambert said she was opposed “to the unprecedented large roof garden/beer garden.”
“While it is softly couched as a garden for residents, it will without doubt be used as a beer and party garden reminiscent of Ibiza parties.
“If permitted the proposed roof area would be open to bar patrons, parties, reservation parties and events, booming music, and whole variety of loud activities out of character and without consideration of location and neighbors.”
It is likely that, in weighing up their reaction to the proposed plans, the reputation of G Boppers’ owner McGregor preceded itself.
Indeed, the resident’s reference to Ibiza-style parties can easily be regarded as a pointed dig at the fighter.
McGregor’s complicated reputation
Since his last UFC fight in July 2021, McGregor has lived an opulent life and has often been photographed partying at nightclubs. He has also faced allegations of violent behavior that have damaged his reputation.
The Dubliner sold his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand for a reported $600 million in 2021. He has since bought up a few Dublin pubs and owns a clothing brand.
While locals may cheer the rejection, developers will be disappointed by the loss of what they argue was a vital piece of infrastructure for the sleepy town.
Kicking back against the council’s ruling, a design report from the architectural firm at work on the project, Cathal O’Neill + Co., said the hotel “seeks to make appropriate use of the site, which has been underutilized for many years, and to provide guest accommodation, which is sorely needed in the area.”
Garrett O’Neill, an architect with the firm, lamented the lack of adequate hotels in the village, pointing out there was just one hotel in Howth available on Booking.com.
The King Sitric is the only Howth hotel that appears on Booking.com from a Fortune search, with the rest apparently bed-and-breakfast options.
A representative for McGregor didn’t immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
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