Own goal by ITV commentator

I was dismayed by comments made by ITV commentator Clive Tyldesley during the Ireland vs England game, carried live on the station last Wednesday night.

During the coverage, the camera switched to the crowd several times, showing footage of Irish fans. On one such occasion, Mr Tyldesley noted that the Irish fans were “having a good time tonight”, before adding: “They probably have a good time every night.”

Given the significance of the game in terms of mending relations from the sides’ most recent encounter, this was disappointing. What exactly did Mr Tyldesley mean by this statement? Why does he think Irish people have a good time every night? It must be noted the remark was set against a backdrop of another offensive observation from the him last summer. After Ireland’s defeat to Spain in the European Championships, Mr Tyldesley said: “They’re happy drunks, the Irish.”

Ireland is unfairly lumped with a tag of being a nation of drunks, ignoramuses and happy-go-lucky chancers. Regrettably, as an Irishman living in London, I encounter this opinion all too often. In this ultra-sensitive politically-correct era, how can sneering comments like Mr Tyldesley’s be viewed as acceptable? These statements are at best derisory and at worst racist. Let us bear in mind the recent furore caused by golfer Sergio Garcia’s ill-advised statement regarding having Tiger Woods over to his house for dinner. Is this any different to categorising Irish people by drawing on a lazy stereotype?

Let’s also bear in mind incidents which have arisen in English football in the past 18 months which have brought this grim subject to the forefront. Racism, as I understand it, is the classification of individuals into distinct groups based on certain characteristics so as to define them as more – or less – desirable than another race. Comments like Mr Tyldesley’s serve to prolong a stereotype that has little grounding in fact. To those on the receiving end, the remarks were no less offensive than slurs directed at other afflicted groups, be they Africans, Asians, Jews, Mormons, Spaniards, etc.The comments underscore a view that persists in British society that it is acceptable to poke fun at “the Irish”.

James Enright

Grosvenor Avenue

London