Mayor Bloomberg's Irish gaffe has reminded me of what I consider is the worst ever St.Patrick's dog and pony trick
A few years back Ronald Reagan had a bunch of dwarfs dressed as leprechauns in the White House for St.Patrick's Day.
One came and sat on his lap. I kid you not.
I'm glad I found the photo above from Life magazine so you know I'm not making this up.
Then another leprechaun came up and pretended to shoot him-- the other leprechaun that is.
All in good fun but the Irish Ambassador at the time confided he had never been so embarrassed.
So much for taking the Irish seriously.
So given that is the standard of most hokey Irish trick ever played what else can be as bad.
This year Seems Southwest Airlines are serving free booze on their planes on St.Patrick's Day.
The low cost traveler has always had a way with the Irish.
Former CEO Herb Kelleher used to dress up as a leprechaun on St.Patrick's Day and fly coach.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I first read that. Probably a bit of both.
This leprechaun dressing up doesn't grab me at all.
But serving free booze certainly makes the very obvious connection for Southwest.
Then there is the story from Sioux Falls , South Dakota, where they have a parade but no Grand Marshal.
In fact they are actively looking for one.
So if you fancy leading the excited throngs through downtown Sioux Falls, e mail Wendy Neuharth at wneuharth@siouxfalls.com.
The deadline is Feb. 21.
Maybe the winner could get a free flight on Southwest too,dressed as a leprechaun.
21 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.MrSinatra | Apr 21, 2011, 07:46 PM EDT
gimmie a break. as if this was reagans idea or as if this is somehow comparable to bloomberg. your bias knows no end.
REMITROMJR | Feb 23, 2011, 04:11 PM EST
Niall, Get over yourself and stop the feigned thin skin. You're just regurgitating an event from a quarter century ago to take a shot at your nemesis, a conservative icon. Let me point out that, unlike Bloomberg, Reagan was himself of Irish extraction and known for his self-deprecating humor.
maloney | Feb 17, 2011, 11:04 PM EST
The rest do drugs.
seanomelbourne | Feb 17, 2011, 05:59 PM EST
Chico sounds like a real Irish/Mexican I think he should lift his sombrero and see the daylight now like what I've done parodied the Mexicans.do all mexicans wear honcho's and sombreros.If you read the right wing press one would be forgiven for thinking so.Neither do all Irish drink to excess you morons.
Chico2001 | Feb 17, 2011, 07:22 AM EST
Hilarious. Of course, you're a total fool. Here's a hint: LEPRECHAUNS AREN'T REAL. hahaha But alcoholism and the suffering the drink has caused for generations of Irish IS. Are leprechauns going to be banned everywhere, is that it? You have a lot of gift shops to check out, my friend! Not to mention Reagan was Irish. His portrait hangs in the Dublin Airport and at his museum in California, there's a huge mural of him at the Irish pub he visited -- as well as a full replica. When you parody imaginary elves out of love, it's one thing. When you mock real people out of malice and bigotry, it's quite another. You should understand that, Niall, as a bigot yourself.
seanomelbourne | Feb 16, 2011, 05:58 PM EST
You Irish who laugh at yourselves, ask why the white house doesn't make anti gay/Jewish/Muslim/Mexican or black jokes but they think it's ok to demean the Irish. The source of most ethnic jokes is to dehumanize a race as the British did very well in the 19th. and 20th. century's.
mandokeith | Feb 16, 2011, 09:35 AM EST
I thought this article might say something interesting or significant, boy was I wrong. The Irish are not nearly as sensitive as some seem to think, man up Niall we have been handed worse. Still proud to be Irish.
fedupirish | Feb 15, 2011, 05:39 PM EST
We are forgetting Reagan's "off mike" Irish joke. We are forgetting Reagan's high "regard" for M. Thatcher and his dis-regard for Ireland. Forgive him, leave him alone? No! He was anti Irish, period.
bmulletmayo | Feb 15, 2011, 04:08 PM EST
Why do the irish in Ireland take themselves so seriously?- no one else does.
susanna | Feb 15, 2011, 03:03 PM EST
Mayor Michael O'Bloomberg has more Irish spirit than Ronald Reagan ever had. Heck, even the Irish joke about the Irish! When you compare the two and their politics, it's obvious who has/had the real heart for people, and it sure as hell wasn't Ronald Reagan! wasn't
borefield | Feb 15, 2011, 01:31 PM EST
Niall, the point you are missing is, These tasteless jokes at the expense of the Irish is expected by so many to be just that, jokes. If we of Irish Heritage don't see it that way we are excoriated for being "too sensitive and lacking a sense of humour". When hurtful remarks and tasteless comments are made of other ethnic groups there is a resounding uproar. People are fired, forced to resign, the press railes on them until public humiliation is reached and, worse in some cases. I know Bloomberg apologized, BUT, I still say he got off very lightly. Then again, we are just the Irish
Kendall | Feb 15, 2011, 12:01 PM EST
You know what is more offensive. An Irishman trotting out two offensive incidents and then claiming one is worse than the other. Because it is politically expedient to do so; shame on you Niall.
AengusOg | Feb 15, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
Always the political hack, Mr. O'Dowd. A periscope is the instrument for those who wish to avoid responsibility.
mhichil | Feb 15, 2011, 11:06 AM EST
the only thing to take seriously is NOT taking yourself seriously~
wjb1tex | Feb 15, 2011, 10:54 AM EST
A little different. Somebody on Reagans staff thought up the nonsense, not Ronnie. Bloomberg gets all the credit for his gaffe.
antoman | Feb 15, 2011, 10:24 AM EST
Ronnie also had a seer in the White House by the name of Joan Quigley I believe.The man could'nt fly,have surgery or get out of bed unless she first consulted the stars.
hunter933 | Feb 15, 2011, 10:20 AM EST
"A few years back Ronald Reagan had a bunch of dwarfs dressed as leprechauns in the White House for St.Patrick's Day." "A FEW YEARS BACK"!!! Put your papers in and get a job driving the drink cart at the golf course. Your obsolete!
jamieLM | Feb 15, 2011, 10:00 AM EST
@DLW12183 - This happened 20-30 yrs. ago and Reagan is dead, so Mr. O'Dowd used Reagan's foolishness to condemn overall St. Pat's Day nonsense, bashing Reagan at the same time. Times have changed and Americans get "slapped down" if they're not PC at all times. Btw: Sioux Falls should've had a contest for "Irish Mother of the Year" so the winner could lead the parade. This is done by many communities in the Midwest. SF has 90,000 people (with a large Scand. pop.) and the parade will go on.
cillowen | Feb 15, 2011, 10:00 AM EST
forgive them for they no not what they do but bloomie one of g-d's chosen our master here on earth should know better. what say you mr smoothie apologist.
Porickseantuny | Feb 15, 2011, 09:25 AM EST
Isn't the biggest ongoing insult the Notre Dame mascot. Even Xerox uses the symbolic freaky looking ND Leprechaun with clenched fists as part of its advertising campaign. Why don't we get ND to stop with the insult. (I'm an ND grad)
DLW12183 | Feb 15, 2011, 08:56 AM EST
What is the point of this story? Bash Reagan on his 100 birthday or just conservatives in general by the far left! This is intended to be journalism?