79 Comments

• mssusanmac | Jan 17, 2012, 11:47 PM EST

  I am not offended by the shirts. We, Irish, have been stereo typed for years. Hell, I'd buy a couple of them. Besides there will be plenty of non Irish celebrating St. Pat's Day because they say it is ok for this one day...God Bless you all and I raise a glass to you all.

• doctorb | Jan 17, 2012, 08:53 PM EST

  i'm afraid the whole world is just too sensitive any more. these stereotypes have been passed on and have now become more of a joke than anything else. if that kind of "humor" hurts, then your shrink bills must be out of this world! i'm a retired police officer here in wash dc and have been called a pig or told "i smell pork"more times than i care to count. the last resort of a feeble mind is insulting your foe (and sometime your friends). remember "sticks & stones make break my bones, but whips and chains excite me".

• johnshiel | Jan 17, 2012, 05:48 PM EST

  the location of the photo of pretty blonde with green t sure looks like Notre Dame campus... does anyone have a clue on this?

• LaoiseRyan | Jan 16, 2012, 12:26 PM EST

  I agree with the last 4 posters. If I wore a t-shirt that was derogatory to Americans, Im sure a few on here wouldnt be too pleased with that so have the same respect for the Irish.

• jamieLM | Jan 16, 2012, 09:31 AM EST

  If there were T-shirts with logos like - "I'm black, pass me the watermelon and fried chicken, or "I'm Polish and it takes 2 of us to screw in a light bulb," well, you can just imagine the uproar that would cause. The difference is, people of Irish ancestry (and those without) choose to wear t-shirts that reinforce negative Irish stereotypes and other ethnic groups usually do not, even "for fun."

• IrelandNorth | Jan 16, 2012, 07:51 AM EST

  As an addiction counsellor, I see the effects of drug addiction like alcoholism every day. Nothing funny about it at all, and I do have a sense of humour. However, sometimes such merchandise if designed to exploit adverse reaction called negative advertising/controversial publicity. Here's a suggested alternative motif for their teeshirts: "Designed by poltroons. Worn by morons." "Pog mo thoin - Is mise Eireannach/Kiss my ass - I'm Irish!"

• goofygirl | Jan 16, 2012, 03:58 AM EST

  As a third generation Irish American, full blood, I find these very offencive, If i wore a shirt that said something to that effect about another ethnic group, I would make national news, and what does that teach our children about our heritage, that we are all drunks, and that they too should follow this message?

• IrishEddy | Jan 15, 2012, 09:46 PM EST

  The one I get offended by is: Instant Irish just add Alcohol

• Pittsburghkid | Jan 15, 2012, 03:49 PM EST

  LoisRyan: Maybe the Americans are more honest then the Irish? Actually, it might be the fact that Americans drive cars. In America, the drunk driving laws are very strict. Life without a car in America is impossible, life without booze is bearable.

• sirpeter | Jan 15, 2012, 12:05 AM EST

  oonafitz.I agree with ya totally.IC also limits the amount of words in a comment which is annoying for those who have something to say.Can't put up links either to back up a comment.Which is very important.Seems IC reckon Irish Americans get bored if a post is more then 5 lines in length.After all this site is mostly about taking the piss out of Ireland.You are not meant to try and explain anything.So I guess you will have to waste your time.

• sirpeter | Jan 14, 2012, 11:34 PM EST

  Searlit.Yeah well.We can all throw the dirt.It just happens I'm very good at throwing it back haha.On a serious note I like Irish Americans.That's why I am here.But Irish Americans need to remember that St Patricks Day is their Irish stamp on the USA.They shouldn't make fun of themselves with these T-shirts.It's about heritage and who you are.

• oonafitz | Jan 14, 2012, 08:32 PM EST

  Could you please have the comments sections run the first comment at the beginning? Working backwards as it is set up is a real waste of time.

• Searlit | Jan 14, 2012, 05:23 PM EST

  The Americans at Thanksgiving, oh sirpeter, you do make me laugh, sometimes.

• LaoiseRyan | Jan 14, 2012, 04:45 PM EST

  Seems to be Americans with drink problems on here and not the Irish at all!

• Pittsburghkid | Jan 14, 2012, 04:09 PM EST

  Johhnyb, the Idea of someone wearing a shirt with writing on it, is very funny to me. So you are right, I do laught at them. When confronted with the insult of Irish being drunks, I laugh at myself. I was a drunk, as was my father. I'm more concerned that I'm not a drunk today. Sorry for not dividing up the difference.

• ciaradexy | Jan 14, 2012, 03:26 PM EST

  These t-shirts depict the wearer as drunk and dumb. No Irish person would wear this tat so we'll leave it up to other.

• macalla | Jan 14, 2012, 02:59 PM EST

  These t-shirts are no more offensive than the leprechaun at Notre Dame games, or the constant barrage of I`m Irish too, my family 10 generations back came from.... no one is forcing us to wear them all we do is smile politely like we do with the ohhh your really Irish and let it roll off our backs, and laugh loudly in private

• johhnyb | Jan 14, 2012, 11:13 AM EST

  pittsburghkid asks 'if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?' It's obvious - other people.

• norinalundy | Jan 14, 2012, 11:06 AM EST

  o.k. - I took a beating from some of you about the T-shirts - but you have to admit - I took a bit or more that with of 7 or more seasons of The Sopranos which I had to sit through and watch as friends took great joy in pointing out that all Italians came from that vein. God knows how I hate the mafia and all that the pain it brought to Italy and this country. All of you are correct in saying that I should never wear a T-shirt that would depict a Mob credo or anything that would praise their criminal activities, nor should any Irish person wear a T-shirt that praises the destruction that drink can bring. I concede. So, here's to all the marvelous Irish and Italian writers and artists that have graced this earth, and all the great contributions and beauty I have seen from Ireland - let's celebrate them instead, and let's hope that my children, albeit only 1/2 of which they are Irish, will wear a T-shirt that will make them proud of that heritage!

• WoundedKnee | Jan 14, 2012, 09:42 AM EST

  It should be remembered that Guinness sells a vast amount of stuff--T-shirts, caps, mugs, scarfs and I don't know what else. It gets on my nerves when I go to Dublin and I see all that Guinness merchandise in the souvenir stores. I complained about it once, saying that Ireland had a rich history and culture and should not be marketed by a booze company, but the store clerk was Spanish and didn't understand what I was saying. I guess that pretty much sums up where Ireland is right now. I would appeal to folks who visit Ireland not to buy that Guinness garbage (I'm talking about the stuff they market, not the drink, though to be honest I prefer the Cork stouts, Beamish & Murphys).

• biggles008 | Jan 14, 2012, 07:49 AM EST

  In Ireland if you don't drink a lot there is something wrong with you."He's good for nothing, he's not even able to drink". I thing it's changing slowly.

• citizen69 | Jan 14, 2012, 05:10 AM EST

  IrishCentral needs to look at itself, they are just as guilty of promoting these stereotypes. Last year at this time i challenged IrishCentral when they ran a similar story about t-shirts with drunken Leprechauns, while on the very same page IrishCentral were running ads selling St. Pat's day cards featuring the Irish as drunken Leprechauns!! On any given day you will see a drink related article on IrishCentrals front page. This is the image they are promoting to the world of Ireland then they complain when others do the same!

• butlerreport | Jan 13, 2012, 11:29 PM EST

  To others perhaps. But they reflect the reality that we are known internationally as a nation of drunks. Like it or not.

• hjolley | Jan 13, 2012, 10:56 PM EST

  Of course, they are all offensive and only the young, the stupid, or the non-irish would buy and/or wear these ridiculous t-shirts. I like what faberm1 said....wear something with the Irish language on it and engage in conversation about your roots.

• sirpeter | Jan 13, 2012, 10:43 PM EST

  Norinalundy.You might not take offense to be called a mob wife.But Italians would if they were T-shirts with Italian-American criminal.Or if young Black-Americans wore T-shirts saying "I'm a Proud Uncle Tom Nig*er on crack" on Martin Luther King,Jr Day.Or if young British people went around with T-shirts saying "I'm a Proud English Football Hooligan" on the up coming Queen's Diamond Jubilee.Maybe some people here like to think "I'll rise above above this"But it isn't funny when young Irish people get blind drunk and it isn't funny when young blacks take crack and it isn't funny when English people riot and kill innocent people in football stadiums.All those things can and do cause serious harm to young people.To have my heritage associated with excessive drinking by a few young Irish idiots and have the MEDIA jump all over it YEAR IN,YEAR OUT is very annoying.More so from an Irish born person who never had a family drink problem or in the extended family for that matter.An Irish born person in Ireland wouldn't be seen dead wearing T-shirts of that nature.Irish born people wouldn't find it funny.

• faberm1 | Jan 13, 2012, 09:46 PM EST

  I think the shirts trivialize what it means to be Irish born or ethnically Irish. I like the idea of wearing a jersey from the County of your origin to celebrate the day. Or, better yet. Caithigi giota beag eadaí oraibh le rud beag scriobh air as Gaeilge. (Wear a bit of clothing with something written on it in Irish). It's a great way to start a conversation about your roots. I wear one that says, "Ní Eireannach mé, ach tá Gaeilge agam". (I'm not an Irish citizen, but I have the Irish Language). That's pretty unusual in Texas!

• AMWilson | Jan 13, 2012, 09:26 PM EST

  norinalundy, I don't know that these stupid t-shirts will urge the population to drink, but they certainly reinforce the notion the alcoholism is the major Irish contribution to civilization. Tragi-comically, this notion is joyfully reinforced by a lot of Americans who think that binge drinking reinforces their "Irish" cred.

• norinalundy | Jan 13, 2012, 06:54 PM EST

  Of course I find these T-shirts funny, but I have to somewhat agree with Eileen Murphy. As the wife of a person who suffered through a person who drank and never deemed it a problem, well it was tough, and putting more emphasis on "such a sad state of affairs", it is recognizable and understandable. I didn't have it in my family, and it was hard to put up with it for my children's sake (whom I fondly call "gimmicks", and who had to live with seeing their father out of control too many times in their young lives.) Will these T-shirts urge the population to drink? Maybe. But probably not. Did prohibition stop people from drinking? Definitely not! Did all my yelling, crying, and screaming stop my children from drinking? No. The way I tried to live my life, and what they saw in their lives, from their family and their friends' families, is what finally tempered their desire to follow in their father's family's footsteps, and made them responsible drinkers. (BTW, things have vastly improved in that area with their Dad!). I am not Irish, but I would not take offense at those shirts. However, I am Italian, and do not take offense at being labeled a Mob wife, etc., because I know that I am not, God knows, I would have so much better nails, and would be able to afford better manicures! Alas, I do understand the implications, and feel that if one does not want to wear them, then it is more than understandable as to why. Moreover, if people want to wear stupid T-shirts for one day, let them do so, no one will remember anyway. If they want to get piss-drunk, well, then, let them have a hang-over the next day, they will remember, at least for a week or so. Let's face it, all the preaching in the world will not stop them. Unfortunately, they have to learn on their own that this dis-ease is something that has to be cured by the person who has it by their own volition, and no amount of T-shirts, prohibition, clergymen, etc. could ever stop them.

• jamieLM | Jan 13, 2012, 06:40 PM EST

  As long as there's a market for these T-shirts, they're going to be produced for those who love to wear this kind of stuff. I find these T-shirts stupid, so I wouldn't buy or wear them.

• ardrigh2 | Jan 13, 2012, 05:12 PM EST

  If you think the tee-shirt wordings in this article are offensive, take a walk by a Spencer's Gifts store a few days before St. Patrick's Day and check the shirts, hats, and beer mugs on sale there. But don't take your wife or teen-aged daughter with you, you could be very embarrassed; this stuff is nothing compared to Spencer's hard-core vulgarity....

• eileen murphy | Jan 13, 2012, 05:01 PM EST

  Alcoholism has been discovered as genetic.Of course I always believed this since there are so many in my family who are alcoholic. I call it the devils disease with a lot of DIS EASE.It causes so much pain, fear and anxiety when children see a parent out of control and this will last them a life time I pray every time I see some one who's brain is soaked in alcohol and is totally unaware that they can not function in safe manner.I cry when I see the little ones with frightened eyes living with an alcoholic parent or parents. This disease KILLS people. Why would anyone want to make money displaying such a sad state of affairs!!!!!!!!!!!!

• proudirishlass | Jan 13, 2012, 04:53 PM EST

  Just wanted to say that i loved the comment by BOBBYsHOBBY. It made me think of my dad may he rest in peace.

• JBRAFTREE | Jan 13, 2012, 04:31 PM EST

  As I said, the Irish Sport shirts are a bit pricy, I paid between 40 and 60 Euro each for them in Galway. About the same as our NFL jersies here. KerryKing, your Kerry shirt in the Irish is spelled with a C. It might be Cairraigh. Not Sure. Mine is Gaillimh and is Burgundy.

• Pittsburghkid | Jan 13, 2012, 04:04 PM EST

  If you can't laugh at yourself, then who can you laugh at? I have never worn a tee shirt with any kind of wording, or emblems. I feel sorry for people, who feel it necessary to make a bill board of themselves. I believe the practice of wearing such shirts as a lack of self worth.

• Nelsonbarry | Jan 13, 2012, 03:22 PM EST

  Wouldn't buy and wouldn't wear. How about celebrating St Pats with a little Irish Pride. The tri colors would be nice. When you wear it, it says it all.

• Saoirse9 | Jan 13, 2012, 03:19 PM EST

  They're disgusting and offensive. Would not wear. And for a national chain like Old Navy to sell them is unspeakable. Boycott!

• PatriciaMarya | Jan 13, 2012, 03:07 PM EST

  Here's to "edmundburke" reminding us of the origin of "boycott!" What I think is most interesting is to check the labels of these Ts and find the country of manufacture! As I said during the Beijing Olympics, finally, all of the Olympic pins and souvenirs were made locally! Friends who live in Hoboken, NJ, stay indoors during their St. Patrick's Day Parade and lament the young age and female genders who are pathetically falling down drunk. It is so offensive that binge drinking is prevalent on our college campuses; it is equally offensive that the day seems to give permission for all to be drunks in public. I'm a New Yorker and you should see the drunks in uniform in front of the Irish bars after the parade is over. Alcoholics are not going to pay attention to anything that smacks of discipline. Slainte!

• sirpeter | Jan 13, 2012, 02:59 PM EST

  Bernie give it a rest.It's a dumb question and it's a dumb article.Do you think Americans would find it amusing if you put up an article and "wide load" t-shirts depicting Americans as gluttons and fat for their Thanksgiving "eating" holiday? Reinforcing the drunk Irish rubbish ON IC from now up to St Patrick's Day gets old real fast.We don't need that Punch Magazine stereotyping on IC.

• adrienrain | Jan 13, 2012, 02:44 PM EST

  I'm not the one to criticize, I designed a tee shirt that says, Celts Unite! Together we can drink it ALL.

• muirisobric | Jan 13, 2012, 02:41 PM EST

  geeeeeze, who's asking anyone to wear them. No one is forcing anyone and most if not all who wear them are either irish or of Irish descent. i wouldn't wear them. I wear my Sunday suit and my Kerry sash....

• KerryLKing | Jan 13, 2012, 02:16 PM EST

  Hi JBRAFTREE, Good advice & funny you should mention it! I made a point during one of my many travels to Ireland to buy a couple KERRY shirts....mainly because of my name. But each year, when it comes to St.Patrick's Day, that is what I wear...my Green & gold one....and nobody else is likely to be "wearing the same shirt" and it's on a positive note for Ireland!

• AMWilson | Jan 13, 2012, 01:40 PM EST

  I think that "Irish today, hung-over tomorrow" is the perfect American "St Paddy's Day" tee, with the emphasis on "Irish TODAY". liosuibhigin, for those of us who see ourselves as part of something greater than ourselves, ancestral pride is likely a vestige of ancient Ancestral Worship. The past influences the present and is therefore part of who we are, and for many who do not have the education, social standing, or financial means to accomplish anything worth noting, ancestral pride may be all they have... and that's completely legitimate, in my opinion. It beats the bottle...

• durtymurphy | Jan 13, 2012, 01:07 PM EST

  " Let's Get Ready To Stumble" That's a Cracker. Could'nt help but laugh,

• JBRAFTREE | Jan 13, 2012, 01:07 PM EST

  Wear Irish sports shirts. Should be available at your local Irish Import shop, or online. To hell with all the shiits that would profit from the Irish in a derogatory way. These shirts cost a bit more, but most show the County you root for too.

• wilhoef | Jan 13, 2012, 01:04 PM EST

  I'll answer the question. "Yes."

• sepulchre69 | Jan 13, 2012, 01:01 PM EST

  Hey Oonafitz it's not just the Irish who are all banged up on Paddy's day

• modo313445 | Jan 13, 2012, 12:54 PM EST

  Wouldn't wear them. they are offensive. I dislike the "Kiss me I'm Irish" thing too. Seriously, what does drinking and kissing me have to do with my being Irish?

• newnation | Jan 13, 2012, 12:53 PM EST

  Grow a sense of humour everyone!

• bluesman | Jan 13, 2012, 12:36 PM EST

  Colkelley you nailed it!!!Hey dont forget the White Pride parade!

• bunkerisland | Jan 13, 2012, 12:22 PM EST

  The cutie in the green T is okay but she needs to change in to an attractive blouse. Irish=Drunks has been a strong belief of many yet evidence shows other nations have similar if not greater alcohol related problems.

• doniebhoy | Jan 13, 2012, 12:13 PM EST

  I don't find these shirts offensive at all( and I'm as Irish as Paddy's pig... opps thats probably gonna get me in trouble) I think political correctness is gone totally out of control. Its not like they're wearing a swastica or a KKK symbol or something like that. To me( and I realize at everyone will probably see's this differantly) it's the Irish ability to poke fun at themselves. If YOU find it offensive, don't wear it, BUT don't try to take away someone else's right to free expression OR more importantly their right to a sense of humor (all right, all right, I know it's not a right, BUT it should be;).)

• Searlit | Jan 13, 2012, 12:09 PM EST

  I saw many of these t-shirts at an Irish Festival I went to last July. It' seems in the last year the t-shirts have gotten worse. I didn't see anyone buying them, nor would I ever, buy one myself! I've said it before, many of the drunk & disorderly have no Irish ethnicity, at all. It's the 'everyone is Irish' on ST. Patrick's day message that has caused the problem. You know? It was probably started as a way to boost alcohol sales. Thanks crass materialism!

• Keynyata | Jan 13, 2012, 11:53 AM EST

  We Irish have no pride and are cowardly - just witness the economic events of the past 5 years. As for being drunk snd stupid - that aqpplies to anyone who drinks alcohol - and especially our politicians. There is nothing special in being Irish,apart from embarrassment.Same applies to so called Irish-Americans.Wear the t-shirts - they are truthful.

• donal1951 | Jan 13, 2012, 11:50 AM EST

  I find them mildly offensive, but to the point I would never wear one, much less buy it. I'd prefer a T-Shirt with the Irish flag, a portrait of Pearse, a commemoration of Bobby Sands and his nine fellow hunger strikers, and I could go on. I do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day with too much drink. I do, however, liked a good corned beef or ham boiled dinner since I live alone and there is too much waste if I make one just for myself. And no, I am not a teetotler. I drown the shamrock in a pint or two of the best.

• seanreagan | Jan 13, 2012, 11:50 AM EST

  I'm reminded of Brendan Behan's comment: 'The trouble with the "stage Irishman" is there's one on every corner'. Indeed, he was one himself, at the sacrifice of his great talent. St Patrick's Day was hijacked by commercial interests and the liquor merchants years ago. It's best not to take anything about it too seriously.

• RedBranch | Jan 13, 2012, 11:48 AM EST

  Its disgusting to think that in this day and age we still chained to the racist stereotypes of the nineteenth Century. As well as the T-shirts, Who will join me in a petition for Notre Dame to ban absolutely the use of their 'Fighting Irish' leprechaun logo? Google Image it and see others that even now would make Thomas Nast smile in his grave!

• jimmybb | Jan 13, 2012, 11:46 AM EST

  YES THEY ARE INSULTING BUT IN IRELAND THE SELF DEPREACATING NATURE OF OUR PEOPLE WILL FIND IT FUNNY AN DONT TAKE THINGS THAT SERIOUSALLY US IN AMERICA ARE PROBABLY CALLING OUR POLOTICIANS TO PUT SOME SILLY LAW AGAINST THEM SERIOUSALLY AMERICA HAS BIGGER PROBLEMS GET OVER IT

• rekuehn | Jan 13, 2012, 11:43 AM EST

  I think they are offensive. I would not buy them, wear them or allow my children to wear them. Whatever happened to "Irish Pride"?

• BarbaraB | Jan 13, 2012, 11:34 AM EST

  They are offensive and advance the stereotype of the Irish drunk. What amazes me is the number of Irish men and women who'd buy them and wear them. I cannot imagine other ethnic or religious groups wearing shirts that mock their heritage. Instead of these shirts, why not those that feature Joyce or Wilde or O'Casey, etc.? There's our wonderful heritage!

• greengirl448 | Jan 13, 2012, 11:25 AM EST

  No I think that they're very offensive. And it's not just the Irish that these or any kind of these shirts are utterly unnecessary. In any culture or race or ethnicity it is offensive. If I wear a shirt for St. Pats it'll be one of my Irish Step dancing ones, like the one that says Foot Perfect. Cause lets face it, dancers are foot perfect. In every way :)

• kilgara | Jan 13, 2012, 11:16 AM EST

  This garbage is just another symptom of the amazingly widespread lack of unity and cohesion among the Irishborn and Irish-Americans in the USA. One reason is that far too many parents utterly fail to instill in their kids any semblance of the unmatched history and culture of the native-born and their descendants in our world-wide diaspora. This unfortunate reality has been accelerated since the vast majority here have moved out of the Irish neighborhoods into the suburbs and rural areas where they very quickly meld into "just plain American".It was intensified in 1965 when Ted Kennedy pushed through an immigration bill that sabotaged his own ethnicity and accelerated the now almost totally disappeared Irish political power and sway.And now our beloved Eire faces the same disappearance of our culture and language because craven,gutless politicians failed to protect Irelands'borders and allowed a silent invasion that eventually will make that island a place our forefathers could not imagine or recognize.

• Italocelt2410 | Jan 13, 2012, 11:13 AM EST

  Bernie, have you nothing better to do than write this rubbish.What a way to earn a paycheque! Eejit!

• BOBBYsHOBBY | Jan 13, 2012, 11:05 AM EST

  Good day all, Those Ts are a bunch of crap! Hey that's it... the messages and the material wasted are all CRAP! My Dad nor my Gramps is here to ask if there is a similar or kinder word the Irish homelander use for crap... But even from the high heaven's I can hear their message. HEY SONNY, TELL YOUR/OUR FRIENDS "IF IT'S CRAP - IT NEEDS FLUSH ONCE TO GET IT GONE, THEN FLUSH IT AGAIN (or twiced) IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE IT IS DARN WELL GONE FOR GOOD. I sure can't and wouldn't question those two wise-guys directives! So may I suggest - when it's a blatant slap to our grand Irish heritage's cheek... I say "FLUSH THAT CRAP". When there is no market for their crap Ts those dealers will simply have to follow there worn-out wares and sad-sayings right down the same drain. THEN I DO BELIEVE... NO - LET ME SAY I WILL AGAIN BE MOST HAPPY AND ASSURED OF THE FACT: "IRISH EYES ARE SMILING" -- AS THEY DARN WELL SHOULD BE! YEP, SMILING RIGHT HERE ON THIS EARTH AND UP THERE WHERE DAD AND GRAMPS ARE BLESSED TO BE HANGIN-OUT! Thank you for the space to let me share. Now I ask that you have Peace and Joy in ever step you take and in every day you are given - may there be many.

• edmundburke | Jan 13, 2012, 11:03 AM EST

  I think it is a reflection of how far the Irish have come in the world and how far Irish Americans have come that what would be otherwise considered front page news of ethnic insensitivity with regard to other groups is considered rather unremarkable when it comes to the Irish. The T shirt stereotypes appeal to only a very narrow market, rehash a very stale stereotype that the vast majority of people can process correctly, and don't really do much to stop the onward march of Irish culture and identity. The offended (and the defensive) can protest, of course. Indeed, the suggestion of a boycott harks back to another contribution of the Irish to social history: the first "boycott" was the mass shunning of the cruel estate agent Captain Boycott of Ballinrobe Co Mayo in around 1880. The shunning was a success, driving him ignominiously out of Ireland, and thus giving birth to a new social tool of protest with a new name, the "boycott".

• MotherIrish | Jan 13, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

  LOL

• liosuibhigin | Jan 13, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

  "Proud to be Irish" or "Proud to be American" or "Proud to be English, Pakistani, Indian" etc. we see/hear it so often, especially from American politicians. Taking pride in one's accomplishments is legitimate; taking pride in birthplace or ancestry is not.

• rege0573 | Jan 13, 2012, 10:27 AM EST

  Just because the stores in Ireland are foolish, does not mean we Irish in the States need to be. I find them all highly insulting and would not ever wear one of them - or wish my children to. Yes, many Irish drink but not all of us and we are incredibly proud of our Irish heritage and do not appreciate the offensive remarks. While the Irish have an amazing capacity to find the humor in what can be the most sad/dire circumstances...we do not all handle it with beer, drunkeness or absurdity. Have any of you looked at many of the "greeting cards" out there as well??? Insulting does not begin to describe. I am a proud American Irish person and while I have a wonderful sense of humor...some things are just not that funny!

• johhnyb | Jan 13, 2012, 10:26 AM EST

  So who makes the Irish wear these shirts? Those bad English again probably.

• WoundedKnee | Jan 13, 2012, 10:15 AM EST

  Colkelley and others: What you seem to be ignorant of is that if you go to Ireland in March you'll find that the stores (Penneys department store, for example) are full of T-shirts that are far more insulting and disgusting than the one above. So the Irish buy and sell these nasty stereotypes about being drunks. The fact is that St Patricks Day in Ireland is now just one big boozefest, it has no cultural elements, and in fact most of those in the parades are foreigners from Africa or Asia.

• fmurray515 | Jan 13, 2012, 10:06 AM EST

  The Harp is the official symbol of Ireland.

• colkelley | Jan 13, 2012, 10:00 AM EST

  Let's just bring out a line of denigrating stereotype goods for Blacks, Hispanics and Asians and see how fast we get sued. While the Irish are one group about whom such insulting stereotypes are "socially acceptable" you are absolutely on safe grounds if you just come up with the most insulting possible portrayals of Southerners. I have always wanted to publish "White Sports Stars" or "White Movie Stars" or "Ivory" magazines or hold "Miss White America" pageants and launch a cable channel named "WET" (White Entertainment Television)...mainly to see how fast I would be sued or lynched. This has very little to do with the Irish...it has to do with the fact that every racial group EXCEPT caucasians has the right to be proud of their heritage and has legal recourse if that heritage is maligned. Luckily, since my sons are Americans of Irish/Filipino ancestry they can be offensive and offended simultaneously.

• BrendanDunphy | Jan 13, 2012, 09:57 AM EST

  All ethnic groups have stereotypes. I just let these things roll off my back. There are worse things in life to worry about.

• annapolisirish | Jan 13, 2012, 09:48 AM EST

  Whilst I agree w/sunspotter that we are indeed an entirely self-depricating lot I feel most of the shirts you picture and many others I see around mid-March each year are offensive in the way Mayor Bloomberg's comments re: the drunks hanging out of the windows of the Irish American Historical Society on upper 5th Avenue were - they are terribly insensitive and they continue to perpetuate a stereotype that never was totally correct to begin with. Irish Central has taken offense to Thomas Nast being honoured in New Jersey and so, too, should we say to Old Navy and anyone else that "yes, because we Irish have a unique view of what's humourous, we can understand that they might be seen as being 'funny' but they also sting." Nothing wrong w/Everyday (Being) St. Patrick's Day" but there is something mean and insensitive to seeing a people as nothing more than drunks. It's good to just get the message out.

• paddyh1 | Jan 13, 2012, 09:45 AM EST

  I agree that the four leaf clover is not the symbol of the Irish and is used only by American commercial interests. The three-leaf shamrock has always been the symbol of the Irish as it is said that St Patrick used it to teach about the Holy Trinity.

• todrafferty | Jan 13, 2012, 09:41 AM EST

  Because of these stereotypes?? Seem to have yer cause and effect turned about.

• oldboreen | Jan 13, 2012, 09:38 AM EST

  Simple solution!Don't buy them! Boycott any shop refusing to withdraw them from sale, and let the shop-owner know that you will ask your friends and family to do likewise. It's time we put all this stupid 'oirish'nonsense behind us along with the green leprechauns, shamrock (3 and 4 leaf variety!)and grew up!You don't have to make a 'show'of yourself to show that you're proud to be Irish.

• sunspotter5 | Jan 13, 2012, 09:23 AM EST

  of course they are offensive. That said, the Irish are entirely self-depreciating and will simply laugh them off -- unlike other cultures who will get legislation passed to make their wearing a hate crime.

• oonafitz | Jan 13, 2012, 09:03 AM EST

  Just watched the slideshow and the yoga shirt was there. I was also reminded of another pet peeve: the 4-leaf clover seen on 90% of "Irish" t-shirts, cards, etc. I would appreciate it if someone would correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember seeing 4 leaf clovers pictured in Ireland. I suppose it's the American businesses confusing "luck of the Irish" with lucky 4 leaf clovers, completely oblivious to the fact that the shamrock was used specifically because of its three leaves.

• oonafitz | Jan 13, 2012, 08:54 AM EST

  I was ordering from an online Irish goods site last week, and when I reached the t-shirt section, I cancelled my order and wrote to tell them why. They were selling a shirt called "Irish Yoga" which showed several pictures of a man draped drunkenly over a chair in different positions, with empty glassses spread over the floor. Because of these stereotypes, it's almost impossible to go out on St. Patrick's Day and find a place that isn't full of drunk Irish for a day.