A blog chronicling the long and illustrious history of Dublin’s pubs has taken a subtle swipe at Ireland’s foremost MMA champion for his comments in response to recent riots in the country’s capital.
Dublin By Pub, as the site brands itself, posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday afternoon: ‘As a pub blog, we’re often asked for recommendations on what pubs, and even what drinks to avoid in Dublin.
‘Normally we decline to answer this and today is no exception, so – as usual – we definitely won’t be telling people to avoid The Black Forge and Forged Irish Stout.’
The Black Forge pub and Forged Irish Stout brand are owned by ‘Notorious’ UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
But in case it wasn’t clear, a second tweet featured two photos of McGregor’s profile with the word ‘Slán’, meaning ‘bye’ in Gaelic.
McGregor drew widespread ire last week for a series of tweets in response to serious unrest in Dublin on Thursday following a knife attack outside a school that left three children and a school worker seriously injured.
Police have not yet released the identity of the alleged perpetrator but speculation quickly spread online that the person responsible was a foreign national.
Sources have since told the BBC that the suspected attacker is in fact an Irish citizen who’s lived in the country for two decades.
Nevertheless, violence broke out soon after the attack.
Over the course of three hours, anti-migrant rioters destroyed 11 police vehicles and injured several police officers, with multiple shops damaged and looted in the process.
In a series of tweets posted the following day, McGregor criticised chief of police Drew Harris and called for further action to be taken.
He wrote: ‘Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today.
‘Our chief of police had this to say on the riots in the aftermath. Drew, not good enough.
‘There is a grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening act.
‘Not good enough. Make change or make way. Ireland for the victory. God bless those attacked today, we pray.’
His comments were swiftly followed by a tweet from Paul Golding, leader of far-right political party Britain First, who suggested that McGregor should call a ‘Freedom March’ in Dublin and that ‘the people of Ireland would be solidly behind him.’
McGregor replied: ‘I do not condone last nights riots […] I do understand frustrations however, and I do understand a move must be made to ensure the change we need is ushered in. And fast! I am in the process of arranging.’
He added: ‘There will be change in Ireland, mark my words.’
Irish police are reportedly investigating McGregor’s tweets amid deepening concerns about the online spread of hate speech and anti-immigrant sentiment following the violence.
Contacted for comment, a spokesperson shared the following statement from McGregor with Metro: ‘There is no place for the violence and acts of hate we’ve seen in Ireland over the last few days, I am praying that the streets will remain calm and peaceful.
‘I do strongly believe our leaders must address this issue head-on with serious policy reforms regarding Ireland’s immigration and refugee processes.’
He added: ‘This is not a time for debate and posturing, our elected leaders must act in the best interest of Ireland’s citizens and our beloved country’s future.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
