The Conor McGregor-starring documentary series The Notorious has been named among the award winners at the Celtic Media Festival in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
The fly-on-the-wall mixed martial arts series, which was made by Motive Television for RTÉ, won the Best Sport programme award. It saw off the challenge from Y Gêm Gudd: Llanelli v USSR (S4C), Rugby and the Brain - Tackling the Truth (BBC Scotland), Ireland's Sulky Racers (RTÉ) and Lynsey Sharp - Get Out Strong, Commit (BBC Scotland) to win the award.
Other winners included Grand Pictures' The Legend of Longwood (Best Children's programme), TG4's Pioc do Ride (Best Entertainment programme) and the RTÉ Investigations Unit's Inside Bungalow 3 (Best Current Affairs programme).
MMA fighter McGregor sent Twitter into meltdown when he tweeted on Tuesday that he had "decided to retire young", leaving fans reeling. His coach John Kavanagh followed it up with a "fun while it lasted" tweet himself.
I have decided to retire young.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 19, 2016
Thanks for the cheese.
Catch ya's later.
Well was fun while it lasted
— Coach Kavanagh (@John_Kavanagh) April 19, 2016
However, on Thursday McGregor subsequently clarified that he was not retiring but was stepping away from the promotional spotlight to focus on his training.
One Direction's Niall Horan had been one of the first to express his disappointment at the retirement talk on Tuesday, tweeting to McGregor: "Westmeath will be out of the championship and you've pulled out of 200, what are me and the lads meant to do in July now."
Piers Morgan took more than a subtle dig, saying: "You're going to QUIT as a LOSER. Seriously?" while twitter King Colm Toibin took a more light-hearted approach, writing: "Conor McGregor is reportedly retiring prematurely from MMA to spend more time with Conor McGregor."
Take a look at some of the responses below:
You're going to QUIT as a LOSER, @TheNotoriousMMA?
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 20, 2016
Seriously? pic.twitter.com/fwdg2EYKTn
My son is naturally devastated by the news about Conor McGregor. I just went, "I wouldn't expect anything less from a Budweiser drinker."
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) April 20, 2016
Down in Nicaragua shooting my brand new show do TG4 , no wifi for days , then when I do all I see is @TheNotoriousMMA has retired ? WTF???
— Hector (@hectorirl) April 20, 2016
Like knocking out Jose Aldo in seconds wasn't impressive enough @TheNotoriousMMA just KO'ed the Internet! #retirement #UFC200 @ufc
— Haraldur Dean Nelson (@HalliNelson) April 20, 2016
@TheNotoriousMMA Westmeath will be out of the championship and you've pulled out of 200, what are me and the lads meant to do in July now
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) April 20, 2016
Would be stunning to see a fighter as skilled and driven as Conor McGregor walk away from legacy, tens of millions. But I'd respect it.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) April 19, 2016
Conor McGregor is reportedly retiring prematurely from MMA to spend more time with Conor McGregor.
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) April 19, 2016
I bet Dana White is calling Conor McGregor, like a boyfriend blindsided by a Relationship Status Notification. https://t.co/T64nxEOIhC
— Philip DeFranco (@PhillyD) April 19, 2016
Conor McGregor is as retired as Jon Snow is dead. Topical tweets only. #Almost420brah
— Trent (@BarstoolTrent) April 19, 2016
@TheNotoriousMMA retiring is a massive shame but Id like to think it wont be the last of him. Some people love the hustle. Movies next?
— ⚽Mr Pidge⚽ (@DanPidge) April 20, 2016
@TheNotoriousMMA retires from his cheese tasting profession and you're all worried about his fighting career? @UFC #201 he will be back
— Jarrad Symmans (@LooseGoldy) April 20, 2016
@TheNotoriousMMA can't believe that you refused to do the press conference and film the promo for #UFC200. As much as I like you mate
— nathan williams (@swanseajack999) April 20, 2016
Although many fans are refusing to believe the sincerity of McGregor's tweet, UFC president Dana White has said that McGregor will not be taking part in his rematch with Nate Diaz in Las Vegas on July 9. Diaz is the only man to beat McGregor in a UFC bout.
The UFC made the decision to cancel the featherweight champion's rematch as they claim McGregor refused to fly to Las Vegas to fulfil his media obligations.
"Is Conor McGregor retiring? Only he can answer that question. I don't know," White said. "But Conor McGregor is not fighting at UFC 200.
"Obviously we still have a good relationship with Conor. I respect Conor as a fighter and I like him as a person. But you can't decide not to show up to these things. You have to do it."
