what a clown should know better

The problem is that the BBC have a bit of form in this regard. They defend a lot of borderline racism on the basis that making fun of national stereotypes is part of British humour. Remember the Top Gear/Mexicans case which ended up involving the Mexican ambassador to Britain and then there was Geoff Boycott referring to the Irish Cricketers as “you leprechauns”. There’s a fine line between a bit of neighbourly slagging and the descent into racist “humour”. If the BBC can’t define that line it’s no surprise that commentators occassionally overstep it.

I’d prefer to have a misspelled tattoo than be a dyslexic Birt!

Daly Thompson isn’t a comedian, on stage making a point about prejudices. He made an association between being Irish and being stupid in a country which has a lot of Irish, a history of prejudice against the Irish and who oppressed Ireland.

I think people are at least warranted in stating it’s inappropriate.

He should know better than to make a racist comment like that,it’s like the pot calling the kettle …..eehhh…

Strange that someone that no doubt experienced racism in Britain would so easily offend another ethnic minority in the UK. The alarming rise in anti-Irish hatred in the UK, Australia and New Zealand should serve to remind us that at their core, British dominated former colonies, including the US, remain overtly hostile to Ireland and its people

I know a number of English people living in Ireland, and I can assure you they get just as much crap here. One guy in particular was threatened while wearing an English rugby jersey in a pub watching a 6 nations match against Wales. All he wanted to do was wear his jersey watching a match at 2 o clock on a Saturday afternoon.

In general, I think as a people we like a bit of banter, and should be able to take it back. It must be tiresome getting offended all the time. I’d hate to go around letting people get my back up with words. The only people who can get a rise out of me are those closest to me – they know the buttons to push and the precise sequence to do it in :)

Don’t worry about this, sure hasn’t Brian singer made the bad guys in his new tv show a super advanced Irish tech company! We’re the bad guys now! But not with terrorist bombs, with brain implant technology. See, we’re smart now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19o-sh9KWAk&feature=player_embedded

As a true Irishman that has experienced anti Irish feeling in the UK especially from the police. I say bring it on. I make a lot of jokes about the british even to british friends of mine. Are we loosing our identity. Suck it up & give it back.

That sort of anti Irish comment seems to be ingrained in the mindset of a certain generation of British people. The same type who think its OK to call you Paddy. Its a racist comment and should not be dismissed as a joke by the BBC. If he Daley Thomson says that on the TV, i wonder what he says down the pub with his friends. F— You too Daley Thomson.

He had two much Lucozade

also racism

Ah Daley, you should have had your packet of Daz with you to whitewash over your stupid comment.

The term “that’s a bit Irish” is used all the time in the UK and has often been used in front of me. If it’s not said in malice then I’m not bothered.

You would think Daley Thompson would know better than say something so obviously offensive. Since when has there been a correlation between being Irish and having poor spelling? Why would he instantly make that connection unless it is a long-held belief of his? Frankly, Mr. Thompson is displaying an attitude which reminds me of the Victorian caricature of the Irishman as stupid and ape-like it’s amazing that this attitude lives on in 2012. I think we have a right to be offended, those who say we should just ignore it are wrong, no one should have to put up with any type of discrimination on the grounds of race, intelligence, disability etc.

Hmmm another well balanced bro with a chip on each shoulder !!

Oh please. Let’s not get on our high horse over something so petty and trivial. An apology was given, now get over it. Seriously, we are such a sensitive little country.

Storm in a teacup.

That was a stupid generalisation.
A bit like saying all sports commentators and personalities are thickos.
Which surely is not the case.

Although SOME of them are.

When it comes to jobs in Australia, in most cases the Australian will get first choice over a foreigner.

awh god its an outdated joke. It does not reflect the way we are viewed by the world nowadays which is broke not stupid.No need to be so offended by a crap slur like that. we all say worse stuff about the english so get over yourselfs.

having watched the clip, it is obvious to me that he was talking about the oy part of the spelling and reading it phonetically as in oirish, and not referring to us as being thick. people need to stop being so thin skinned.

Thompson is not dissimilar to many British folk, I see it in business so much in my daily dealings and always turn a blind eye but i have to say it annoys me from time to time – the oul bodhran kicks off in the back of my mind and I get all patriotic!!! But you can’t really do a braveheart on it these days!

Is it possible he was referring to our accent? Say Oyl impic and it sounds a tad Oirish! Either way build a bridge!

Surely he was only referring to the accent. OYlimpic like Oyrish… What’s so racist about that? Am I missing something? I’m from Ireland btw.

Racist black English man.
Later a spokesman will say that I didn’t mean to say that.

It was a racist comment. If another presenter had used the n-word he/she would be been removed from his/her job. He should be sacked.

The whole pot & kettle thing springs to mind as I struggle to find much proof that good old Ireland isn’t a wholly racist country. I happen to work with people who refuse to deal with customers if their skin isn’t white and who won’t eat in the local cafe as the owner’s husband is English. I regularly hear completely insulting comments and names being used to describe people who aren’t the 100% Irish, white Catholic that they find acceptable. This is in county Cork by the way and I can only hope I work with the exceptions to the rule but I fear not….

Of course that doesn’t make Daley Thompsons remark ok but compared to the kinds of comments I’ve got to listen to regularly, which make me almost ashamed to be Irish, it was a pretty tame comment.

Daley (a nice fellow!-check out his rivalry with Redgrave and Coe regarding lighting the Olympic Flame), might have been thinking of this old Spike Milligan sketch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmJSrVNKnr0

As someone else said, let a British person make an ethnic joke and see how well that goes down.

The people who are on here getting all self-righteous are exactly the ones the rest of us feel duty bound to wind up. What about anti-English sentiment in Ireland? Does that count?

How do u confuse an Irishman? Put two shovels against a wall and ask him to take his pick. Sickening racism, I’m sure you’ll agree (all u stick-up-the-arse whingers that is, anyway…)

We should boycott English goods and not go there on holidays, and then march on their embassy, oh wait, it’s not in the slightest bit worth getting remotely offended about, we’re more than happy to export our Irish stereotype with Father Ted and Miss Brown’s Boys, so get over yourselves those who are up in arms over this

I honest thought he heard O’Lympic, as i did, and thought it sounded Irish.

I bet he only won gold because Bruce Jenner had retired.

1908, 1948 and now 2012…. The English attitude to the Irish at Olympics staged in London
has not changed much!

I didnt see it but assume it was said in jest. Everything is gone PC mad. He was probably only havin the Craic. Where is our sense of humour gone.

I hate racism!!!

I’d say he was referring to the pronunciation of the word ‘oylimpic,’ as in, how it would sound if a person with a stereotypical Irish accent would pronounce it, in which case it is amusing.

/whale oil beef hooked

Let’s not bring the English Irish thing in to play.what new Zealand and Australia have got to do with this story is baffling.The comment was made by a sad not funny small minded person.

Daley is a legend and i’d say he he probably shat himself after he made that remark. I doubt that there was any malace in it though plus its ok for us to slag each other off but when some celebrity does it it then its a big deal.
He’ll probably be starting on the Scotish or the Nigerians next.

God! Aren’t we Irish fierce sensitive little plants ……………

Blacks for ya

Brilliant! TWO countries. Ireland – with the bent bankers, debts and dodgy politicians.
And “Oyrland”, debt-free, prosperous and 100% crammed full of virtue.
And everyone in it will have tick skins so as not to be offended by comments from eejits.

Funny isn’t it the things we get worked up about. We put all our energy throughout the Celtic tiger years screwing each other over with outrageous charges, corrupt planning, rubbish buildings, rubbish services, a joke of a healthcare system, underfunded mental health, education to list only a number. We reacted in the same precious manner a year before the fall when German businessmen laughed in shock at how much we were paying medical consultants. Daley Thompson is an Olympic legend born out of hardwork, talent and a respect for his tradition. Our recent Olympic history – questions about our swimming, our horse riding and now possible insider gambling. What a joke.

Sticks and stones will brake our bones but names will never hunt us!!! Hope all the spelling is ok !!?

Typical….glad moved out of that place

Thompson wore a t-shirt under during one Olympics asking the question ‘is the 2nd best athlete in the world gay’? He obviously fancied himself as a wind-up merchant & one for the banter. Amazing athlete but not one for self reflection so it seems perfectly in character for him to splutter out such a crass comment. I’d say the ‘O’ made the connection for him and out it came… He’s just your embarrassing mate always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.