The mayor stirred up another brouhaha yesterday when the Irish Voice reported that "there were some boos from an astonished crowd" when those words emerged from Bloomberg's mouth Wednesday night at the American Irish Historical Society, where more than 100 leading Irish-Americans were celebrating publication of a book about the 250th anniversary of the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Among those in attendance was the Irish Counsul General, Noel Kilkenny, and the parade's Grand Marshal, author Mary Higgins Clark.
"He was trying to be funny," said one official who was there. "It wasn't funny. Some people took it as a personal or ethnic (comment)."
Even City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a political ally of the mayor's, suggested he was off base.
"Given the mayor’s long history of support for the Irish community his remarks last night were both surprising and inappropriate," said Quinn, who didn't attend the event.
"I am pleased to hear he has since apologized and while he should not have said it, he has a great record on the issues. Let’s move on," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.
Bloomberg told reporters he didn't intend to offend anyone.
"I was talking about a party that they have every year on St. Patrick's Day, where it's sort of traditional to hang out the window and yell and scream. I said it in good fun. I certainly didn't mean anything that anybody should take offense to."
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