When Conor McGregor finally paid back 15-year-old debt from plumbing days after mega money fight with Floyd Mayweather

Conor McGregor is expected to return to active competition in December or early next year. [Image courtesy @thenotoriousmma on Instagram]
Conor McGregor is expected to return to active competition in December or early next year. [Image courtesy @thenotoriousmma on Instagram]

Before finding superstardom in the world of mixed martial arts, Conor McGregor used to be an apprentice plumber in Ireland. During that time, his mentor lent him $60 to buy some tools for himself, and 15 years later, 'The Notorious' repaid the debt with a heartwarming gesture.

Even while training to be a plumber, a 16-year-old McGregor used to train boxing at the Crumlin Boxing Club under the tutelage of Olympians Phil Sutcliffe and Patrick 'Bra' Brady.

It was Brady, a career plumber himself, who lent McGregor money for the tools. While the now-UFC star was supposed to pay him back, he never got it squared, until he found combat sports glory.

In an interview with SunSport, 'Bra' said:

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"I said I'd get him the tools and he can pay me back week by week because he used to be at the club. I said 'You got them?' He said, 'Yeah I'll pay you back.' He never did."

'The Notorious' would then go on to become a UFC two-division champion and the highest-paid athlete in MMA history under the guidance of John Kavanagh of SBG Ireland.

The Dubliner bagged his biggest combat sports payday when he locked horns with pugilistic legend Floyd Mayweather in a cross-over boxing bout in 2017, which he lost via TKO in Round 10.

Per a report by The Sun, after the defeat, the 36-year-old returned to Crumlin and enlisted Sutcliffe and Brady's services once again to hone his boxing skills.

Watch Conor McGregor work the pads with Patrick Brady below:

In a grand gesture, McGregor also invested a sizeable sum of money in renovating the gym. Brady said:

"He gave us a few things, a new ring and things like that, track suits all that. He said, 'Are you happy with that?' I said, 'Yeah, but one more thing... I want my 70 quid!'" [h/t The Sun]

When Conor McGregor donated a whopping $1 million

His unparalleled achievements in the octagon and flamboyant personality have made Conor McGregor one of the wealthiest fighters on the planet. Despite great success, 'The Notorious' never forgot to give back to society.

In 2023, the former UFC two-division champion made a whopping $1 million donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The charity, founded as a tribute to New York Department firefighter Stephen Siller, who died during the 9/11 attacks, is aimed at providing mortgage-free homes to veterans, 9/11 first responders, and their families.

Catch Conor McGregor's comments about the donation below:

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Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann
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