The Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kelly, has attacked his Australian counterpart over his St Patrick’s Day message. Tony Abbott began the message by saying the celebrations were the “one day where it was good to be green”, and then went on to make a joke about drinking Guinness.
According to the Irish Independent, Mr Kenny dismissed Mr Abbott’s message saying: “I’ve heard the prime minister’s comments. He made them. I don’t agree with that.
“I think that it is perfectly in order for so many Irish people in Australia to have an enjoyable celebration of St Patrick’s Day and St Patrick’s week, and to do so in a thoroughly responsible fashion… There has been a long-term view of a ‘stage Irish’ perception. I reject that. I think it’s really important that we understand that we have a national day that can be celebrated worldwide, St Patrick’s Day.”
Despite the Taoiseach’s outrage, a large number of alcohol fuelled parties are planned all over the world, and Guinness is likely to record its best sales figures of the entire year.
Mr Abbott’s original video is below: