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19th Dec 2016

Michael Healy-Rae has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Conor McGregor winning RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year

Alan Loughnane

Some people were not happy.

Conor McGregor was crowned RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year this weekend, beating off competition from the likes of Jamie Heaslip, Seamus Callanan, Paul O’Donovan and many others.

But not everyone was happy with the announcement and anyone who knows Twitter will know what a hostile and unforgiving ground its platform can be.

Tweets on McGregor’s latest win ranged from labelling it an “embarrassment” to strikes against his sport as a whole and claims about its legitimacy.

Like him or hate him, respect the sport or not, the masses venerate Conor McGregor and his unprecedented achievement in the UFC will be forever remembered in combat sport history.

Kerry South TD Michael Healy-Rae does not agree with the outcry that has followed McGregor’s announcement and has said that he “truly deserves” the award of Sportsperson of the Year.

In a statement, Healy-Rae said: “Looking at Conor’s background, a young man who was on the dole that worked every day and night putting in endless hours to reach where he is today. He is one of the best athletes that we have in Ireland and he should be acknowledged by us here in Ireland for that. He has overcome all the doubters that said he couldn’t do it, some people in Ireland thought he was a flash in the pan but again proved everyone wrong. He truly does deserve Sportsperson of the year.

“I have seen over the weekend a lot of negative comments on Social Media about Conor winning this award but instead of people trying to put down Conor McGregor we should be extremely proud of what he has achieved on the world stage, he has done more than any other Irish fighter ever has on the world stage and I am glad to see that acknowledge by RTÉ.

“I have no doubt that Conor McGregor will go on to break further records in 2017 and I hope that we get to see him fight in Croke Park in the coming year.”

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