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An Australian journalist has apologized for his article on Katie Taylor’s role in the Olympic Games. Irish readers found the article headlined, “Punch drunk: Ireland intoxicated as Taylor swings towards boxing gold,” offensive.
The Fairfax journalist, Peter Hanlon, began his article by saying, “Great Britain suffered a rare defeat on Monday, when rowdy support for the game efforts of a Liverpudlian female boxer was drowned out by a gathering of delirious, flag-waving Irish singing Fields Of Athenry. For centuries, Guinness and whiskey have sent the Irish off their heads. Now all it takes is a petite 26-year-old from Wicklow.”
The article appeared in the Age, and its sister publications the Sydney Morning Herald and on the Brisbane Times websites.
The article was later changed to read, “For centuries, Guinness and whiskey have sent some of the Irish (we’re not talking about all of them) off their heads.”
In the original article, Hanlon praised Ireland’s boxer Katie Taylor. He said “Dark-haired, deep-eyed and engaging, Taylor is not what you’d expect in a fighting Irishwoman, nor is she surrounded by people who’d prefer a punch to a potato.”
Noel White, Ireland’s ambassador to Australia, wrote to the newspapers in protest at what he called the “references to intoxication”.
Fairfax Media said the article had been changed and wrote, “Fairfax Media apologizes if any offence was caused by this article.”
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Related:
The Daily Telegraph thinks Irish Olympic hero Katie Taylor is British
Top ten facts about Irish Olympic hopeful Katie Taylor – VIDEO
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In a letter to the Irish Echo, the Australian newspaper, Hanlon said he had received “a considerable amount of feedback” on the article.
He said, “I am deeply sorry…I can only apologize and say that I abhor racism. The references in the story’s introduction, and further down to Katie’s closest supporters, were poorly chosen; I wish I had my time over."
Hanlon added, “Perhaps we’re all guilty of indulging racial stereotypes at times, and this has been a stern reminder that it’s not good enough. I’ll learn from it. Again, I apologize for any hurt I’ve caused.”
Meanwhile on Wednesday morning Twitter was abuzz with irate Irish Katie Taylor fans as the Daily Telegraph claimed the Bray, County Wicklow Olympic boxer as one of their own.
The British newspaper said "Can anyone beat Britain’s Katie Taylor, the most technically proficient attacking boxer in the world?”
Irish comedian Dara O’Briain tweeted "Oh, come on! Daily Telegraph" while RTE presenter Ella McSweeney tweeted "Team GB losing the run of itself.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.cynicus | Aug 15, 2012, 01:07 PM EDT
What a dodo! Hanlon is an old Irish surname, so Peter is one of us; whether he likes it or not!
JooLi | Aug 14, 2012, 06:40 AM EDT
It's Hilarious. It's similar to Chinese People saying Japanese People have slanted eyes.
Ron | Aug 11, 2012, 09:13 PM EDT
Over-sensitive or what? The Irish worship their Guiness and whisky, always have and always will. Where's the 'racism' in this? That word gets used and abused so much by precious people these days. Cliched, maybe, but racist NOT. Get over yourselves.
seanomelb | Aug 11, 2012, 06:54 PM EDT
I dissed the British press moron for an article they printed idiot. Go back an d answer my question on British screws coward.
DanOLoingsigh | Aug 11, 2012, 03:35 AM EDT
Seano - please keep up with your own posts, man!!!...you dissed the Brits, using old Aussie results, and said they despised Ireland's success...so if you think you're handing anyone a 'hiding', god only knows what's happening in that underactive, squidgey little thing between those big, red, donkey-lugs of yours??
seanomelb | Aug 10, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT
I just gave you a verbal hiding on another post,You sure are into pain. I did not diminish any athlete or any country's mighty efforts in the Olympics. Your paranoia works in mysterious ways Dano my son.
DanOLoingsigh | Aug 10, 2012, 09:40 AM EDT
Seano the Arch-anglophobe...obviously hurting when he looks at the medal tables...I have spoken with a number of Irish families who are at the Olympics (from Dublin, Donegal, Mayo, Galway)...not a word of complaint about their experience, only compliments and a desire to be part of a great party...the 'anti-Irish' mindset exists only in Seanos tiny little, fried-up brain.
angrypaddy | Aug 10, 2012, 12:40 AM EDT
When you vote an ALCOHOLIC as leader of the country what do you expect people to think ? Every body in the banking world knows that when the bank guarantee was signed at 3 o clock in the morning that those who signed it were blind drunk only drunken fools would have done that
Nicoletta | Aug 09, 2012, 10:01 PM EDT
That aussie journo has obviously never heard of the Pioneers (total abstinence society of the Sacred Heart) - there are still many Irish who are teetotal, thanks be to God!
seanomelb | Aug 09, 2012, 06:53 PM EDT
One Brit newspaper called Kathie "British" of course if she lost she would be Irish.Typical of the English anti Irish mindset. The Brits are jealous of Australia's standard of living. If you add all the medals the Aussies have won in the last 40 years the Brits are nowhere near the mark and they despise any little success Ireland has at the games.
Sparklet | Aug 09, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
Some people need to look at their own attitudes. They are quick to object to the Irish having a reputation for being drinkers, but quick to generalise about other nations. The Aussies can come across as racist, but that doesn't make them a whole nation of racists.
Gavin | Aug 09, 2012, 11:21 AM EDT
@Yerffac Yep know what ya mean, Racist BS from the minute I got of the plane to the minute I happily got back on to leave, Many of them think there are Gods gift to planet earth.
Kilsally | Aug 09, 2012, 10:36 AM EDT
Give over with a name like Hanlon he has Irish ancestry
Aliciarose | Aug 08, 2012, 11:36 PM EDT
Hey Peter, Hope you read this. I am Australian, married to an Irishman and when we have travelled through Ireland and called into pubs (in every County, may I add), we have ordered a Pint and a Whisky Chaser. So there. Maybe you will be able to call Australians "pissed" out of their heads. At least we rnjoyed ourselves and Go Katie!!!
donegalcali | Aug 08, 2012, 10:16 PM EDT
@Yerffac- My sentiments exactly. Spend six months there and couldn't wait to get out of there.
sirpeter | Aug 08, 2012, 09:36 PM EDT
A little nation with a big heart.That has always punched beyond it's weight in every aspect of human achievement.This isn't an Aussie insult.This is just a pommie who got a phone call from London to throw the dirt.They are calling Katie British in some papers.That's what the Brits do.They always do this.Nothing new.
brian22 | Aug 08, 2012, 08:49 PM EDT
Yerffac...and Australia is glad you left, I would suggest you keep your hate and negativity in the "Good old USA". You appear to be ill-informed, bitter and quite possibly responsible for some of the hate your countrymen suffer worldwide. We are a country of millions of foreign nationals living and prospering (including Americans), in Australia and make no excuses for our enviable life style!
seanomelb | Aug 08, 2012, 08:28 PM EDT
palmeiras! What's your beef with Aussies. Get your facts straight dearie
palmeiras | Aug 08, 2012, 06:43 PM EDT
Aussies, even so-called educated ones, make really nasty jokes about aboriginies, the beautiful original inhabitants of OZ. Loud mouth S.O.B's these aussies with really obnoxious accents.
DrSheilahere | Aug 08, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT
Can you imagine the same slur against blacks or gays? Interesting that a simple- Uh, sorry is ok cause it is the Irish. Good thing we don't take ourselves as seriously as many groups. LOL.
TisEyerish | Aug 08, 2012, 06:22 PM EDT
I hate that the Irish have such a reputation for drink...especially when I hear comments from others of Irish descent. I can't speak for today, but 10 years ago, Ireland had the lowest consumption of alcohol per capita in Europe. There are many more of us who drink sparingly, or not at all, than there are those who use drink to sustain them. I have educated many Irish-Americans who knew absolutely nothing about the Irish except that they drink. I have educated many of my African-American friends as to how the Irish were enslaved for centuries. I educate everyone as to how Irish literature, music and courage has enriched the world. They usually come away from these conversations humbled by everything they didn't know about the Irish!
JBRAFTREE | Aug 08, 2012, 04:32 PM EDT
Don't sweat the comments. They are ill conceived at best.
oaklongan | Aug 08, 2012, 03:15 PM EDT
My beloved Grandfather Longan; a tough, brave fighter (in two World Wars), hard drinking (boiler-makers) who becmae a materials engineer on an 8th grade education in the twenties. He pulled no punches; he constructed working toys for my brother and me when money was tight in the late 40's...even with a serious war injury.
oaklongan | Aug 08, 2012, 03:08 PM EDT
Especially picked up on hanlon's comment about punch and potato, what an idiot and an inept 'journalist'. Plenty of Germans, Greeks (ancient and modern),Norse, etc, etc. who have 'sterling reputations for roaring drinking...Vik (viking) beserkers and Alexander's Macedon army come to mind, with the adrenelin pumping in spite of the alcohol. Irish aren't alone in getting painted with tar brush on drinking. Navy Seal Dick Marcenko said he recruited men (he could trust) in PA coal-mining Czech's working men's bar at 6:00 in the morning..who could be trusted as the then (late 60's) motley, talented guys, how well could they hold their liquor, bearing in mind they could party after hard battle. Just like ancient and modern Celts, WITH or WITHOUT alcohol.
seamusdenais | Aug 08, 2012, 03:03 PM EDT
Australians are lazy, drink too much Castlemaine XXXX and don't give a toss about anything. Never mind the sheelas!!!!!!
cillowen | Aug 08, 2012, 02:36 PM EDT
aussies think poorly of themselves something that nigh all of us can appreciate. Tie me kangaroo down maite gimme a Foster's do whacca a doo lot.
Nicopernicus | Aug 08, 2012, 02:15 PM EDT
It just occurred to me that this was an Australian...that's rich. Aussies and drink are polar bears and cold.
hybernia | Aug 08, 2012, 02:13 PM EDT
Katie going for gold on Thursday.
citizen69 | Aug 08, 2012, 01:55 PM EDT
Stupid piece of lazy stereo-typing journalism... I wonder does he work for Irish Central on the side!?
Yerffac | Aug 08, 2012, 01:18 PM EDT
Australia accusing the Irish of being drunks? That's a good one. The only country with drive-up liquor stores "Want that bottle opened, Mate?" Australia is a backward country with a chip on its shoulder--they hate Americans, Brits and anyone they deem below that. Only 20 million strong, thank God. Eerything is overpriced, men dominate. Think all the women look like Nicole Kidman? Spend some time in in a place like Brisbane--talk about obese women. Couldn't wait to get out of there.
Suivness10 | Aug 08, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT
Johnnymac12, my, my, why don't we stereotype a little? While you're at it, why not take a shot at the Poles, the Jews, the Blacks, the Hispanics? Yes, it was a racist remark written by Hanion; he admitted it himself. and there's no place for it in today's world, or for a cruel remark like yours either.
johnnymac12 | Aug 08, 2012, 11:54 AM EDT
My Goodness. The truth hits hard.
Silling | Aug 08, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT
I saw a framed license for shooting Aborigines issued as recent as 1916, in a pub in Noosa. Queensland is full of red-necks. Incidentally, I am an alcoholic, dry 12 years, but I don't give a four x for the Australian's remark.
cillowen | Aug 08, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
this hanlon didn't quite get in sync with the mother's British newspaper which claim Kathie with "Can anyone beat Britain’s Katie Taylor, the most technically proficient attacking boxer in the world?” R
roryobrien | Aug 08, 2012, 11:42 AM EDT
Sparklet, you're probably right. Aussies are in general good people but there's no denying this ignorant jingoistic-quasi fascist quality about them too. There's a poster from the Second World War of a Japanese soldier looking like an ape - and yes, he's black as well. Pity the Japs didn't actually get to Australia although enough of them surrendered at Singapore to discover what the Japanese soldier really was like.....
Sparklet | Aug 08, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
No point in taking it personally. Australia has a reputation for being racist, not just towards the Irish.
abbym7180 | Aug 08, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
oh and rachel , look i love you your my friend on facebook, however when you speak for the irish you to speak for all in ireland, america, australia, great britain, etc.And at least from what i see in america, yes we do like to drink occasionally with friends in moderation, and on st.patrick's day most of us are but not all, pretty toasted, while some are celebrating with food and church. If we were always drunk we wouldn't be able to hold jobs,get through school,raise a family etc.So I would say i don't think we drink more now than anybody else.Just Saying.It's a sterotype.
abbym7180 | Aug 08, 2012, 11:10 AM EDT
It's just more typical stereotypes of the irish left over from the last century or two. Personally I'm sick of it. This is the same country that last year hung up the irish need not apply signs at a construction company, in australia.Irish central posted it. lets move on to a new generation of peace. Lose the stereotypes.And good going katie !
abbym7180 | Aug 08, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
by the way good going katie !
abbym7180 | Aug 08, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT
it's just typical of australia..and really i'm sick of these sterotypes imposed on the irish..it's like all blacks are gang members. it's putdown's left over from the last century. The british are nice to us now, but having had an aussie ex-friend in the past, don't expebe the same.Remehe same country that had a contruction company that said the irish need not apply last year . Any questions ?
ReturnedYank | Aug 08, 2012, 10:39 AM EDT
Stop the presses: Australian is Racist!
TayandCake | Aug 08, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT
its still illegal to be from Ireland, its nice to know britain wants us
brennanirish | Aug 08, 2012, 10:29 AM EDT
Just yesterday a recently issued international report was discussed, on a major radio station, regarding the nations with the highest drinking problems and Ireland ranked 15th. Not great, but in response to Rachel Gaffney's point, I say that you won't ever hear the other 14 disparaged the way Ireland is regarding Alcohol or even mentioned.....even if those 14 nations "deserve" their reputation as well as Ireland may "deserve" theirs.
Nicopernicus | Aug 08, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT
Its my experience with the so called gaff by ex-wrestler/Minnesota Governor Jessie Ventura on David Letterman; "The streets of St.Paul were laid out by drunken Irishman" The only fuss made about these comments are those that are not even Irish nor have any real experience with Ireland and with such a deep level of conviction at that...What a load of crap...move along is right. Not sure who these people are but my guess is they are suburban housewives with absentee husbands who have a clubhouse somewhere in a minnie van parked at a there kids soccer game...why don't they pay attention to the game.
Nicopernicus | Aug 08, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT
No smoke without fire? I think a lot of us deserve our worldwide reputation. I don't drink alcohol myself, and I don't have a problem whatsoever with people who like a drink without getting hammered. The problem is, I see plenty of "hammered" all around the place. It's time to face the problem - no use getting all uppity when somebody makes the point. Anybody been to a wedding lately where, by the end of the entertainment, a majority are just sitting there half asleep, gazing into a blank canvas? Pissed as newts. Pretty sad, really. Éamonn, Dublin.
butlerreport | Aug 08, 2012, 10:20 AM EDT
Having traveled the world I have news for you. The world regards us as a nation of drunks - like it or not. And from the behaviors of Irish at home and abroad it is a well earned reputation. Regardless of course that 25% of the populations doesn't drink alcohol at all. No apology was needed - the truth hurts but it is the truth.
Portia777 | Aug 08, 2012, 10:18 AM EDT
Typical patriarchal stereotyping in an effort to stir the pot.All Irish are not alcoholics in the same way as all white Australians are not deported criminals.
Irish1798 | Aug 08, 2012, 10:14 AM EDT
Personally, I find the jabs at Irish intellect more offensive than our reputation for an affinity for Guinness and whiskey. So we're not engaging, we have no depth, and most of us would prefer to punch a potato? “Dark-haired, deep-eyed and engaging, Taylor is not what you’d expect in a fighting Irishwoman, nor is she surrounded by people who’d prefer a punch to a potato.”
jamieLM | Aug 08, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
Having Guinness so closely associated with the Irish just fuels the stereotype: Irish Guinness = drunks. This is unfortunate since every country has their share of alcoholics, Guinness or not. The problem is that once stereotypes become so entrenched, they're hard to overcome.
ccarroll001 | Aug 08, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT
Take a look at the ad next to Miss Taylor's picture. Really?
sleepyhead | Aug 08, 2012, 09:41 AM EDT
@Rachelgaffney Speak for yourself
BrendanDunphy | Aug 08, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
Sticks and stones, people. Move along ...
CitizenWhy | Aug 08, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT
I thought journalists were stereotyped as drunks.
DrTrelawney | Aug 08, 2012, 09:29 AM EDT
You fail to mention that the USA Today piece was, if anything, even worse than the Australian article. It referred to "Bray County", babbled about Guinness and suggested we were all betting "pounds" at the bookies. They have since had to amend it.
Rachelgaffney | Aug 08, 2012, 09:27 AM EDT
I have to ask the question... the fact that there are so many references 'Worldwide' towards alcohol ... "Has anyone considered that we may have earned this reputation?"