53 Comments

• bonjouryall | Jun 02, 2011, 12:17 PM EDT

  Perhas Old Navy can change it to 'Irish I were gay' in honor of their coming out of the closet this week.

• Rionach | Feb 21, 2011, 07:10 PM EST

  Anyone get a shirt before they were pulled from the rack? Id like 2 please one to wear and another to give my mother

• seanomelbourne | Feb 12, 2011, 11:00 PM EST

  And I did shed a tear on that faithful day as millions did before me,but I'm one of the lucky ones I did not end up in the U.S of A. I picked the lucky country--Australia--

• citizen69 | Feb 12, 2011, 01:55 PM EST

  No thanks seano, you'll probably need them for the next time you get all teary-eyed for the Auld Country... You Know, the one you love so much you actually left it.

• seanomelbourne | Feb 12, 2011, 01:09 AM EST

  Wanna box of tissues citizen69?

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• nicgearailt | Feb 11, 2011, 09:04 PM EST

  I think it's obscene that Irish people could be ok with this..they need to raise their standards. It is nothing to do with humor...you allow people to degrade you....that's not smart...you should have a little more pride...do not allow someone else to define you..

• citizen69 | Feb 11, 2011, 08:31 AM EST

  I'd take a bet that the people who buy these shirts are overwhelmingly of Irish heritage. These stereotype T-Shirts are available in most Irish souvenir shops in Ireland! Ireland is one of the biggest drinking nations on the planet, that's a fact. Obviously some people seem to take pride in that for some strange reason. If we take out all of the stereotypical products from Irish tourism shops there'd be precious little left to sell! Definitely not as offensive as an Irish Car Bomb, yet they're still on sale.

• Goosey68 | Feb 11, 2011, 12:05 AM EST

  Irish born, Irish bred ...g'wan the Dubs! I live in the USA land of the Free ...not so sure about the brave anymore. This political correctness shite is a load of me bollox. A t-shirt that says "Irish I was drunk" offends you really. I think people are looking for a reason to be offended. The Irish have a sense of humour we will laugh at ourselves as quick as at you. The Irish are secure in our identity and do not feel the need to leap to defend ourselves at bull like this. Lighten up, as you're a short time here and a long time dead! I actually have the cup warmer with the same verbage on my desk with a small Irish flag sticking out of it ...my American wife bought it for me, knowing that I'd see the humour in it.

• seanomelbourne | Feb 10, 2011, 06:14 PM EST

  Georgy my boy! I don't need a yank to remind me of my Irishness.I am Dublin born and visited recently.Penneys owned by associated british foods which owns Primark which markets Penneys.Take your foot out of your mouth Georgy boy.

• ancavker | Feb 10, 2011, 02:00 PM EST

  wookkern: Lots of Irish born too would be just as happy to wear those shirts too. Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones. You should have seen what my Irish-American neighborhood looked like in the 80's on a Sunday morning after they had their fill the night before. You want to talk about vomit!!!

• ancavker | Feb 10, 2011, 01:55 PM EST

  cuculin: I have to stick up for George on this one. Yes he is American and Irish,and one can be both, whether those that were born In Ireland agree or not. I understand the love hate thing, and I am guilty of it myself, when I slam the the Irish born Irish, for their slavish aping of everything English (and to a lesser extent American), and their disdain, dare I say hatred for anything Irish, including the language. I am not saying they need to love it, or cherish it, but they could at least respect it, and not disparage it. Also many have issues with out of control drinking, and the constant use of profanity, including the incredibly offensive C--- word, is just offensive. They degrade themselves using it.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 10, 2011, 01:09 PM EST

  seanomelbourne: Knock off the stupid abuse, or at least restrict it to when you're right. (We won't be hearing any more from you if youi do that). It seems you've been in Australia too long--what passes for your brains are gone Down Under! You're talking dingo turd when you claim that Penneys is English. The founder and, I believe, still the Chairman of Penneys is a Dubliner called Arthur Ryan. He started Penneys in Dublin in 1969. From there it spread to places like Britain, Spain etc., trading as Primark. Listen Sean, why don't you just up and go walkabout back to the Old Country. You won't believe the changes you'll see! You're completely out of touch out there in the Outback. Stop in to Penneys in downtown Dubllin while you're there. You'll see a vision of the Ireland of the future, not your sentimental old garbage. You see, there ain't no Irish working in Penneys in Ireland!!

• krissangel | Feb 10, 2011, 08:04 AM EST

  I agree with snakehips - well said!

• allirishcolleen | Feb 09, 2011, 09:46 PM EST

  I agree i think they should be pulled,i am not saying that the Irish are angels,but that sort of thing makes people think that all they do is drink. And that is sooo far from the truth,i was born and raised in Derry N.Ireland dident see any of that and i dident have a drink until i was 23yo And i get tired of saying that NO we are not all drunks because the Irish have been stereotyped and people believe it.

• JBRAFTREE | Feb 09, 2011, 06:53 PM EST

  The people at Old Navy that OK'd this should be fired!!!!

• krisdaly | Feb 09, 2011, 05:04 PM EST

  I am Irish and NOT AN ALCOHOLIC!! I NEVER get intoxicated for any reason!! That's right and true the Jesus of Nazareth did drink wine but water was not safe to drink in Biblical times!

• seanomelbourne | Feb 09, 2011, 04:46 PM EST

  Dillon is an ignoramus BTW Penneys is is a British store stupid.

• cuculin | Feb 09, 2011, 04:05 PM EST

  This is my last trip and comment to Irish central. The people and comments on here are toxic. I was born and raised in Killarney Ireland and now live in Canada. It is a shame the way there are so many Amadans commenting everyday about things they know nothing about. GeorgeDillion you should be banned from this website in my opinion. Your not even Irish! Yes I said it. YOUR NOT IRISH. Your American one minute and slamming the IRISH IDIOTS then the next your claiming that you feel your entitled to a peice of the Old Sod as you are Irish. You ands a few other tools make me so mad I have to stop coming to this site and reading these posts or it will drive me crazy. I am Irish and proud, it's the greatest Country in the World.

• dessieglynn | Feb 09, 2011, 03:19 PM EST

  I would not buy from "Old Navy" if they were the only store in the USA.

• GeorgeDillon | Feb 09, 2011, 02:52 PM EST

  The Irish who say it doesn't bother them remind me of the kid in high school, who lets others make fun of him in the hope that thereby he'll popular. Of course these shirts are demeaning and degrading, and it shows how low the Irish self esteem and lack of spinal cord has got that they are willing to offer a stupid giggle about them, just like village idiots. You're idiots, Irish! Is that funny enough for you? Ha, ha, ha... But what the article does not mention is that the same type of shirts are sold, in IRELAND! Last year the Irish department store Penneys was attacked because they were stocking St Patrick's Day (supposedly) shirts which showed an Irishman stretched out on a floor lying in his own vomit. I guess that was a real hoot, ChiChione? Irishman passed out in his own vomit. Ha, ha, ha... Idiot.

• pugsmom | Feb 09, 2011, 02:50 PM EST

  Interesting that these "design mavens" seem to think it's OK to "bash" the Irish, but will piss all over themselves to make certain they don't offend, in any way, shape, manner or form other nationalities. Can you imagine them producing something that tied, say, all middle easterners to camels? I think not....THAT isn't "politically correct!"

• cinish30 | Feb 09, 2011, 02:43 PM EST

  Old Navy stores suck anyway!

• thelawlors | Feb 09, 2011, 02:21 PM EST

  I'm glad they were pulled too. At work, I am constantly getting the usual remarks about irish drunks etc. especially around St. Patrick's day. Most Americans don't realize it's our National Holiday. There's a limit.

• Woodkern | Feb 09, 2011, 02:00 PM EST

  A lot of "Irish"-American punkasses in the suburbs will be very disappointed! Whatever will they wear for their once-a-year trip to Manhattan for the March 17 piss-up?

• ancavker | Feb 09, 2011, 01:12 PM EST

  We can debate whether it is offensive or not, but the fact remains if it was any other ethnic group, it would not have happened in the first place. Simple as that.

• ancavker | Feb 09, 2011, 01:11 PM EST

  woodkern: Irish-Americans do Irish no favors?? talk about the pot calling the kettle black> The shocking amount of drinking in Ireland, and much of it by under age kids, is well shocking. Sadly many of the Irish themselves live up to the stereotype. You should have seen what some of the Irish-American neighborhoods looked like on Sunday morning, after the Irish crowd that cam over in the 80's Had their fill of drink.

• haikued2 | Feb 09, 2011, 12:51 PM EST

  Offensive to whom? a few tight a**ed twits with no sense of humor? Can't we get them working on giving Muslim women a few human rights????

• haikued2 | Feb 09, 2011, 12:49 PM EST

  It is over for Ireland...when you can't laugh at yourself and the PC people take over your heritage..it is just over. In our Pub it is a Belfast Car Bomb...who the heck cares.

• cillowen | Feb 09, 2011, 12:16 PM EST

  a good dose of ridicule every year should keep them in their place. But alas! it triggers dysfuntional madness wherein they begin to destroy property and act out on lands who accepts them. I don't know why they should.

• camerabag | Feb 09, 2011, 12:06 PM EST

  Offended or not, the world needs to get past the stereotypes.

• NOLAN651 | Feb 09, 2011, 11:58 AM EST

  Hey, Old Navy when are the Boy'z in the Hood t-shirts coming out for black history month ! How about a t-shirt for may 5 th with a Mexican doing the backstroke across a river,that's funny right ! You could make billions with Polish t-shirts !

• snakehips | Feb 09, 2011, 11:42 AM EST

  Albeit, we in America think of ourselves as the "Great Melting Pot", we have to lose these rotten sterotypes that keep coming back like bad pennies, i.e, All Irish- Americans are drunks, All Italian- Americans have Mafia ties, All Jewish_ Americans are cheap and on and on. Grow up America!!!!

• ChiChione | Feb 09, 2011, 11:32 AM EST

  OMG, get a life! The tee shirts are funny and not offensive. Are the Irish losing their sense of humor?

• Woodkern | Feb 09, 2011, 11:28 AM EST

  Srdools, Jewish Americans don't make a concentrated effort to live up to their worst stereotypes. "Irish"-Americans do Irish people no favours.

• srdools | Feb 09, 2011, 11:19 AM EST

  I think that you will never see the same type of strategy focusing on a jewish holiday.

• Woodkern | Feb 09, 2011, 10:39 AM EST

  Hey, "Irish"-Americans, if you don't like the script, then don't act the part. It makes to sense whatsoever to give out to the playwright!

• NicolaMeagher | Feb 09, 2011, 10:05 AM EST

  Lighten up America.... I would love a "party like your Irish tee" . And The only reason Irish tolerate this type of "slur" is cos we Irish are known for being able to laugh at ourselves !!! I know this, i was born and raised in Dublin.

• mocmanic | Feb 09, 2011, 10:04 AM EST

  Of course, it's offensive! The real question is why it took "strong reactions from the public" to cause Old Navy to pull the product. Anyone with a ounce of brains should have nixed this right from the beginning.

• Derrylass627 | Feb 09, 2011, 10:02 AM EST

  I agree with borefield. No other nationality would tolerate that kind of slur. Glad they did the right thing and removed from the market.

• babs1964 | Feb 09, 2011, 09:50 AM EST

  Doesn't bother me at all!

• Searlit | Feb 09, 2011, 09:44 AM EST

  I'm very glad they were removed.

• borefield | Feb 09, 2011, 09:43 AM EST

  Of course they are offensive, Hello! Lets play the "Suppose Game." Hispanic, Black, Muslim, Mohammed, Can you hear the outrage, Old Navy would be SHUT DOWN. They did the right thing, hopefully it will be followed through.

• buffaloirishman | Feb 09, 2011, 09:43 AM EST

  Greed and money leads people to do dumb things. This is another example. The real question is: was this what it looks like at first glance or is this step one of a calculated campaign to pull them/apologize and use this apology as a publicity stunt. The first action was so dumb I'm thinking the apology is the real strategy. This is what swift boat/Karl Rove Republicans do.

• tomgallagher | Feb 09, 2011, 09:32 AM EST

  Terrible stereotype.

• mcginleynj | Feb 09, 2011, 09:26 AM EST

  Sick of the stereotype. I know they can do better!

• lookbackkid | Feb 09, 2011, 09:25 AM EST

  Glad swift action was taken on this by the Irish and Old Navy.

• dinglebay | Feb 09, 2011, 09:18 AM EST

  it would be a great gag if it were funny

• IowaMike | Feb 09, 2011, 09:16 AM EST

  If the foo shits wear it.....hic. Where's everybody's sense of humor gone......:(.

• eileenkny | Feb 09, 2011, 09:13 AM EST

  I'm just so tired of the stereotype. It's as bad as the old grits and watermelon thing. These stores pay a lot of money to Madison Avenue to come up with ideas-can't they do a better job?

• cfitzpatrick | Feb 09, 2011, 09:10 AM EST

  People need to lighten up. It's a t-shirt...you don't like it, don't buy it!

• antoman | Feb 09, 2011, 09:06 AM EST

  Sure it don't matter what t-shirt I wear when I drunk as long as its clean to begin with..not that I be puking on it later,or peeing in peoples letter boxes.Anyway,tis too cold for t-shirts.

• CAROLWEBER | Feb 09, 2011, 08:32 AM EST

  Very offensive, glad they were pulled from the shelves