Remark about ‘having a Guinness or two, or three’ provokes sharp response from his Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, has been criticised by his Irish counterpart, Enda Kenny, for perpetuating the “stage Irish” stereotype that the country’s culture is synonymous with alcohol after his St Patrick’s Day message mentioned having “a Guinness, or two, or maybe even three”.

The offending St Patrick’s Day video message was posted on YouTube on Friday and features Abbott cheerily waving his green tie, talking up Irish influences in Australian culture – which he described as songs and a sense of humour – and saying it was a good day for “anyone who cares to come to a party”.

It also included a dig at opposition political parties, saying: “It’s safe to say that this is the one day of the year when it’s good to be green.”

The message was derided in Australian media for being embarrassingly similar to the St Patrick’s Day message he delivered last year, down to the offending Guinness line. Irish media have branded it patronising.

Speaking ahead of a St Patrick’s Day luncheon with the US president, Barack Obama, in Washington DC, Kenny said he did not agree with Abbott’s comments. “I’ve heard the prime minister’s comments,” he said, according to a report in the Irish Independent.

“He made them,” he said. “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.”

The defence minister, Kevin Andrews, continued the theme on Tuesday, tweeting a picture of himself holding a can of Guinness with the words: “Too early? Happy St Patrick’s Day!”

Asked if the Irish ambassador had complained about Abbott’s message, Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, said: “I’ve not had the Irish ambassador complain about a conspicuous consumption of alcohol.”