“Not have been able to go without his help”: How Conor McGregor turned from a hero into a helping hand for two 13-year-old fans with a €10,000 heartwarming move

For Adam and Dylan Duffy, Conor McGregor had always been the fighter they looked up to. The Ballycanew twins had started their own MMA journey and dreamed of competing on a bigger stage. Then, in June 2022, McGregor noticed their fundraiser and stepped in with €10,000. The donation did more than help two young fighters reach Abu Dhabi. It gave them a moment they never expected from the man they had followed for years.Conor McGregor gave the twins €10,000 when they needed it mostAdam and Dylan had earned places on the Irish MMA Youth International Team and were preparing for the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi in 2022. But getting there came with a cost. The twins launched a fundraiser with a target of around €6,000 to cover their trip.Their mother, Liz Duffy, also tried to spread the word online. She tagged McGregor in social media posts and hoped he might share the boys' story. Instead, the former UFC champion did something much bigger.In June 2022, McGregor donated €10,000 to the fundraiser. He then commented online: “Done! Do the land proud I know.” The donation pushed the twins beyond their original target and gave them the financial support they needed for the trip.The reaction from Adam showed just how much the moment meant to them. Speaking to the Gorey Guardian in June 2022 after learning about the donation, Adam said he was at training when his coach told him about it.Surprisingly, Adam initially thought his coach was joking until he saw McGregor’s comment himself. He even joked that he now felt he had to win because McGregor had donated the money.“I was going insane!I thought he was joking until he showed me the comments. I feel like I have to win now because he donated all that money.’ Adam said.Dylan also understood how important the donation could be. Speaking to the Gorey Guardian in June 2022, he said the brothers might not have been able to make the trip without McGregor’s help.He said, “We might not have been able to go without his help. There are so many gyms out there and he donated to us, which is insane.”That made the gesture more personal. The twins had spent years watching McGregor compete. Now, the UFC star had helped them take the next step in their own MMA careers. The €10,000 gift became bigger than one tripThe twins did not stop fundraising after McGregor's donation. Adam and Dylan, along with their parents Jason and Liz, planned to use extra funds to buy equipment for their coach Richie Ivory’s gym and help other Irish fighters travel to the IMMAF World Championships. They also planned to support the Waterford Neonatal Unit, where the twins were born.The brothers had already spent four years training with Ivory before the 2022 championship opportunity. They first joined his jiu-jitsu classes after he returned to Ireland from Australia. Their training later moved toward MMA, where both boys developed a strong interest in the sport.McGregor’s €10,000 donation therefore did not simply cover a plane ticket. It helped two young Irish fighters chase a dream they had worked toward for years.For Adam and Dylan, there was also a personal reward. After receiving the donation, they hoped to meet McGregor at his pub and thank him themselves. Adam even joked, “I’m basically friends with Conor now!"For two 13-year-old fighters who had grown up admiring McGregor, getting help from their hero was already an unforgettable chapter. The fact that his €10,000 gift could also help other young Irish fighters made the story even bigger.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.