Firestorm at New York mall over offensive St. Patrick’s Day items

Spencer's products anger several groups

By

CAHIR O'DOHERTY,

Irish Voice Reporter

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One of the offensive shirts being sold at Spencer's at the Palisades Mall

Photo by Cahir O'Doherty

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Mahoney says similar research in Ireland shows that the same merchandise is for sale there, too.

“I find the merchandise to be pretty widespread. Obviously it’s being marketed to the Irish American community and they support it because they don’t see it to be insensitive or defamatory,” he says.

Mahoney, who was born and raised in New York, told the Irish Voice his grandparents emigrated from counties Galway and Kilkenny.

“The reason why I don’t have any trouble with this issue is that Spencer’s markets to an 18 to 24 year old customer. Many of our customers are fans of Flogging Molly and the Dropkick Murphy’s,” he says.

“Those bands present a certain attitude of being young and Irish. I’m a big fan myself, and you could certainly say a lot of their songs are about drinking and fighting.”

Mahoney says he respects the opinion of the people who call expressing concerns.

“But when I see this merchandise is widely sold, even in Irish shops that cater to the Irish American community, I have to walk away from that with the view that most Irish Americans share my opinion that its not defamatory or derogatory. It’s in keeping with Irish humor.”

But Basler isn’t laughing.

“I don’t think it’s funny at all. I don’t think it’s in good taste or good humor. It insults the Irish, it mocks the holiday,” she said.

“It’s a Catholic holiday above all. I hope that in the future we’ll see shirts around this time of year that celebrate the Irish culture and heritage and not mock and insult it.”

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