Conor McGregor ‘interested’ in buying championship golf course

Irishman Conor McGregor has reportedly expressed interest in purchasing a championship golf course.

The MMA fighter is to be joined by former Irish presidency candidate Seán Gallagher – also a former judge on the Irish version of Dragons’ Den – in making a move for the venue.

According to The Currency, Gallagher has appointed Tom Barrett, the experienced director of hotels and leisure at Savills, to advise a bid.

The property in question is the Slieve Russell golf resort in Ballyconnell, which boasts an 18-hole championship golf course and a nine-hole academy course.

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Otherwise known as PGA National Ireland, it is one of only 8 PGA National designated resorts in the world and forms part of the 300-acre Slieve Russell Estate.

The home club of Irish golf stars Leona and Lisa Maguire, Slieve Russell has also hosted two European Tour events and was home to the Irish PGA Championship.

It comes as the four-star hotel resort, which has been under control of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) since 2011, is set to be put up for sale.

According to the Irish Times, the liquidators of IBRC, Kieran Wallace and Eamonn Richardson of Interpath Advisory, are preparing the asset for sale.

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It has reported that the liquidators invited pitches in recent weeks from several commercial property agents, with a view to offering the hotel for sale early 2024.

The 224-bedroom hotel, including a spa and leisure centre, has been under control of the receivers for more than a decade.

Despite that, Slieve Russell has continued to trade successfully, recording a pre-tax profit of around €5m (£4.4m) in 2022, double the figure for the previous year.

Meanwhile, McGregor, who owns multiple properties in Europe and the US, previously lived in a home overlooking the Palmer South Course at the K Club in Kildare.