Are you dumb? Humourless? Irrelevant?

Opelfruit

Congratulations, you're probably Irish!

At least according to the former Wellington mayor Sir Michael Fowler.

A snipe at the Irish has earned a former Wellington mayor Sir Michael Fowler a flood of criticism.

Sir Michael backed the controversial Wellywood sign in a handwritten letter to The Dominion Post, describing its critics as "dumb, humourless, totally irrelevant and probably Irish".

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5044409/Fowlers-humourless-outburst-angers-Irish

http://www.joe.ie/news-politics/world-affairs/dumb-irish-comments-cause-a-stir-in-new-zealand-0012561-1

Jaysus, that sign is a daft idea.

kfallon

He can ask me hole.......

Seachmall

"dumb, humourless, totally irrelevant and probably Irish"

Bwahahaha, what a legend

few cans?

you know its a dirty oul dig when even the irish are offended

ballsymchugh

ah the kiwis. well known for.... erm.... something or other.

mikemac

Naturally enough, Fowler’s letter sparked outrage amongst many, not least the Irish community in Wellington, who have unsuccessfully lobbied for an apology and will stage a peaceful protest march in the city this weekend to let their feelings be known about the matter.

One reader said that Fowler’s was “a pretty racist comment”

Some people need to stop stressing out

That sign is tacky and a rip off anyway.

bonerm

The sign would probably get blown over anyway what with the winds in that particular city.

old hippy

ballsymchugh wrote: »

ah the kiwis. well known for.... erm.... something or other.

Yesss, what is its again, precioussss

dlofnep

Sir Michael stood by his comments last night. He had been referring to an Irish trait of opposing authority, he said.

"It wasn't meant to be derogatory."

Oh but of course Michael. It was surely a compliment.

Frank Black

If I wanted sweeping generalisations about nationalities I wouldn't be reading AH.

J. Marston

Prick.

We could take New Zealand and their army of sheep, couldn't we?

Seachmall

J. Marston wrote: »

Prick.

We could take New Zealand and their army of sheep, couldn't we?

We'd have to give the aul pitchforks a sharpen first.

bonerm

J. Marston wrote: »

Prick.

We could take New Zealand and their army of sheep, couldn't we?

Ireland v New Zealand would be like a trial run of World War 4.

blaze1

what a dumb kiwi sheepshagger.... i hate it when people judge nations

Sykk

Who is this man? Never heard of him.

mikemac

Let's start a war!

Nothing like a war to stimulate the economy

sensibleken

Ah jaysus he's 81. youre allowed be racist at that age. Look at prince philip and the pope

Logical Fallacy

ballsymchugh wrote: »

ah the kiwis. well known for.... erm.... something or other.

Being hairy with a horrible after taste?

Frank Black

sensibleken wrote: »

Ah jaysus he's 81. youre allowed be racist at that age. Look at prince philip and the pope

and most of our grandparents.

sensibleken

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

Being hairy with a horrible after taste?

toothbrush fence?

Nodin

J. Marston wrote: »

Prick.

We could take New Zealand and their army of sheep, couldn't we?

feelingstressed wrote:

Let's start a war!

Nothing like a war to stimulate the economy ?

Now much as I'd like to revive our noble tradition of raiding, sheep stealing and maiming livestock, I have to point its too fucking far away.

Seachmall

Nodin wrote: »

Now much as I'd like to revive our noble tradition of raiding, sheep stealing and maiming livestock, I have to point its too fucking far away.

We could send him angry letters!

mikom

Opelfruit wrote: »

A snipe at the Irish has earned a former Wellington mayor Sir Michael Fowler a flood of criticism.

Sir Michael backed the controversial Wellywood sign in a handwritten letter to The Dominion Post, describing its critics as "dumb, humourless, totally irrelevant and probably Irish".

Cunt knows nothing about Ireland.
You wouldn't last a month here without a sense of humour.

Shove your lord of the rings up your ring "Sir" Fowler.

Duggy747

That's it, I'm not buying any more New Zealand products.........eh.........oh.............

Lumbo

I done the 12 pubs of christmas in Wellington last year with a load of ex pats (at least 50 people). There's a big Irish community there, they won't be happy.

Seachmall

Duggy747 wrote: »

That's it, I'm not buying any more New Zealand products.........eh.........oh.............

Like this?

Cianos

Steadfast to the last, Fowler has refused to apologise for his remarks, saying that his comments were a reference to the Irish trait of opposing authority.

He's obviously never been to AH

Luxie

old hippy wrote: »

Yesss, what is its again, precioussss

Don't you mean 'Yisss, what is its again, pricioussss

old hippy

mikom wrote: »

Cunt knows nothing about Ireland.
You wouldn't last a month here without a sense of humour.

Shove your lord of the rings up your ring "Sir" Fowler.

Shouldn't you just laugh off his ignorant remarks, in that case?

old hippy

Luxie wrote: »

Don't you mean 'Yisss, what is its again, pricioussss

Now you're reminding me of Brett and Jerome

Luxie

sensibleken wrote: »

Ah jaysus he's 81. youre allowed be racist at that age. Look at prince philip and the pope

Yeah, it's ironic that only last week the nation was waiting/hoping for that sort of insult from Prince Philip.

Oink

J. Marston wrote: »

Prick.

We could take New Zealand and their army of sheep, couldn't we?

Really??? Have you not SEEN the documentary about NZ sheep? They drink your blood and stuff.:eek:

I'm not going near the f'ers!

EDIT: Black Sheep it was called.

Duggy747

Seachmall wrote: »

Like this?

I don't buy sheep / related stuff :pac:

Though I wouldn't mind an aul leg of lemb this weekend....

Nodin

Seachmall wrote: »

We could send him angry letters!

.....hardly a substitute for the thrill of robbing a bit of livestock by moonlight now, is it.

sensibleken

Its not his fault, he lives on the other side of the world. Its all the blood rushing to his head from being upsidedown

Einhard

Looking at the comment he made, he wasn't calling the Irish dumb and humourless and irrelevent, but stating that whoever opposed the sign were all those things and, on top of that, probably Irish. Don't see the big deal myself, but some people will use any excuse to get in a huff. Especially the dum, humourless, irrelevent, and I....ooops, better not finish that!:pac:

Fratton Fred

Nodin wrote: »

.....hardly a substitute for the thrill of robbing a bit of livestock by moonlight now, is it.

Oooh, its called "Robbing" now is it.

I can't wait to get home and give the wife a good "Robbing".

Fratton Fred

Is Sir Michael Fowler hoping for a job on Top Gear?

blaze1

Duggy747 wrote: »

That's it, I'm not buying any more New Zealand products.........eh.........oh.............

Yeah stop buying Uggs that'll show em

Sanjuro

Pfsh. Old, irellevant, curmudgeonly throw-back makes ludicrous generalisation. No point in getting annoyed at it.

problemchimp

A bit rich coming from a convict!

johngalway

Duggy747 wrote: »

Though I wouldn't mind an aul leg of lemb this weekend....

Buy Irish

Herb Powell

feelingstressed wrote: »

Let's start a war!

Nothing like a war to stimulate the economy

ohai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQCvzXic2RU

Latchy

As somebody pointed out in the comments below that article '' It is slightly ironic that Wellington was named after that great Irishman Arthur Wellesley, who earned his name the “Iron Duke” due to his opposition to parliamentary reform '' .There's always an Irony in the silliest of remarks .

LK_Dave

chill our Mr Fowler....here take this bag of yokes

Emoi

blaze1 wrote: »

Yeah stop buying Uggs that'll show em

Australia

Fratton Fred

Emoi wrote: »

Australia

Stop buying Australia?

Xivilai

Tactless idiot :rolleyes:

Its not just the Irish, if he referenced any other nationality in a negative context like that, there would be a ****storm. He should be smarter than that.

sensibleken

Xivilai wrote: »

Tactless idiot :rolleyes:

Its not just the Irish, if he referenced any other nationality in a negative context like that, there would be a ****storm. He should be smarter than that.

he's old. its grand

St.Spodo

I'm not at all familiar with the stereotype of Irish people being ''humourless''. Strange one but I don't think it should be given any notice as coffin dodgers tend to make these sort of remarks.

''Irrelevant'' would ironically be the word that best describes this old boy....

Fey!

ballsymchugh wrote: »

ah the kiwis. well known for.... erm.... something or other.

Extinction