“Irish I was drunk” (“Irish I were drunk”)
“Irish I was/were drunk” is a saying that is popular on St. Patrick’s Day and has been printed on many gift items. Busted Tees came out with an “Irish I were drunk” T-shirt in January 2007.
“Irish I was/ were drunk” (“I wish I was/were drunk”) is taken by many in jest, but other believe that it promotes derogatory Irish stereotypes.
Busted Tees
Irish I Were Drunk
While none of our shirts are magically delicious, this one comes the closest.
Shirt Snob
FEBRUARY 1, 2007
New at Busted Tees
bustedteesirish.jpg
Busted Tees also has new tees. With plenty of time to purchase it before St. Patrick’s Day, they’ve released Irish I Was Drunk. Maybe some will not like this tee because they don’t like the connection between the Irish and drinking, but we don’t really care. The Shirt Snob is Irish, and we love it!
Twitter
Twila Marie
@twila_zoned
Thinking about going out for green beer tonight, so I can say “Irish I were drunk!”
12:35 PM - 17 Mar 2007
Google Groups: alt.sports.football.pro.miami-dolphins
Favre wants to be traded
Stoobz
5/17/07
(...)
Iunno ‘bout Ed’s *forbearers* but I know about Ed. He should have worn a shirt that says “Irish I Were Drunk”.
Urban Dictionary
Irish I Were Drunk
“I wish I was drunk”
This phrase pokes fun at Irish people because they stereotypically drink a lot of alcohol. Not only does the phrase sound as though it is being spoken by a drunk person, it includes the word “Irish.”
Drunk Irish Man: Irish I were drunk!
#i #rish #wish #ireland #drunk
by Kilroy/Was/Here September 20, 2007
Twitter
Matthew Kelsey
@mkkelsey
Seen at today’s parade: a t-shirt saying “Irish I was drunk.” Stay classy, Motown.
1:19 PM - 15 Mar 2008
Twitter
Dom
@just_domjones
This guy got a shirt on that says Irish I was drunk…...get it?
5:38 PM - 19 Oct 2010
9 February 2011, Irish Voice (New York, NY), “Old Navy Pulls Irish Shirts” by Patrick Cooper, pg. 8:
POPULAR discount retailer Old Navy is pulling two of its Irish-themed t-shirts from the shelves out of fear of offending Irish Americans.
One of the offending shirts features Snoopy with a mug of bubbling root beer in his hand with the caption, “Party like you’re Irish.” The other grey shirts says, “IRISH I was DRUNK.”
Irish Central
Old Navy axes offensive ‘Irish I Was Drunk’ t-shirts - SEE VIDEO & POLL
CATHY HAYES @IrishCentral February 09, 2011 06:11 AM
T-shirts at the popular clothing store Old Navy have been pulled after their logos received strong reactions from the public, especially Irish Americans.
One of the graphic t-shirts read “Irish I Was Drunk” while the other showed a picture of Snoopy holding a mug of root beer. It read “Party Like You’re Irish.”
The ‘Irish I Was Drunk’ t-shirt in particular enraged Irish Americans who felt it played into the old stereotype of the Irish around St. Patrick’s Day.
29 February 2012, Irish Voice (New York, NY), “Congress Committee Slams Urban Outfitters” by Cahir O’Doherty, pg. 5:
FASHION retailer Urban Outfitters’ decision to mark St. Patrick’s Day by selling goods that promote negative Irish stereotypes has attracted the attention of Congressional leaders this week.
(...)
Congressional members who signed the letter took exception to items advertised by the company as St. Patrick’s Day wear, such as a hat which refers to “Irish Yoga” with an image of an inebriated man falling down and vomiting shamrocks, or a beer bottle with the words “Leprechaun Pi - ,” and a green Tshirt with the slogan “Irish I Were Drunk.”
17 March 2012, Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA), “A St. Pat’s in good taste: Trashy ‘Irish’ T-shirts get few smiles” by Karen Nugent, pg. A1:
Last March, clothing giant Old Navy pulled a St. Patrick’s Day marketed T-shirt that said “Irish I was drunk” after some public outcry. This year, Old Navy offered only the mildest of Irish-related clothing, with sayings pertaining to the luck-of-the-Irish.
Twitter
Creatively Carole
@Wreathsbycarole
St. Patricks Day Glass Beer Mug “Irish I was drunk” by creativelycarole http://etsy.me/1zCj2uA via @Etsy
7:14 AM - 24 Jan 2017