‘Katie is Irish but feel free to claim Ronan, Louis or Jedward’

As if 48 medals wasn’t enough, it seems a British newspaper is determined to take one of ours as their own.

Years after we had to endure things like ‘Britain’s Seán Kelly’ and ‘Sonia O’Sullivan who trains in London’, we now have The Daily Telegraph with: ‘Can anyone defeat Britain’s Katie Taylor?’

The question posed by journalist Gareth A Davies provoked a bit of a backlash on Twitter yesterday, but most people took the error in their stride.

To be fair to Mr Davies, the main article refers to “Ireland’s Katie Taylor”, but in a small panel accompanying the piece, that fatal error of putting the word “Britain’s” before an Irish person’s name was made.

As with all slights on our good name, reaction on Twitter, was swift.

Rob Morgan went the witty route with: “I’d hate to be the author of this (or ‘Britain’s Katie Taylor’), when the real Katie Taylor realises what’s going on.”

The witty theme was also taken up by Chris Newman, who didn’t seem too perturbed by the error but was happy enough to have a pop at The Daily Telegraph.

“Is there anyone who can beat Britain’s Katie Taylor?” Yes. Ireland’s Katie Taylor,” he tweeted.

Killian McManus said if the British were so quick to take Katie Taylor, maybe it was about time we claimed one of theirs. After all, they have a few medals they can spare.

A humorous note from a Fergus Murphy said: “Katie Taylor is IRISH. However, please feel free to claim Ronan Keating, Jedward, Louis Walsh.

“Ireland’s @j_ennis performed excellently to win gold! Seen as the @telegraphlondon are talking nonsense we may too? Katie Taylor is IRISH!!”

For his part, the journalist in question was quick to acknowledge the error on Twitter.

“Obv I know Katie Taylor is Irish, not sure where that is reported. Will be editing error. I’ve visited her twice in Ireland for interview! Woops — but did not write that about Katie myself. Just checked what I sent. Think there might be a correction tomorrow,” he tweeted.

The newspaper later tweeted: “We’re sorry for mistakenly describing the fantastic boxer Katie Taylor as British in our London 2012 section today. She is Irish, of course.”

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