A television station in Atlanta has claimed that Taoiseach Enda Kenny is seen back home as a politician guilty of “turning his back on the poor”.

11 Alive, which is affiliated with major US broadcaster NBC, is reporting that protesters are set to demonstrate against Mr Kenny’s attendance at the St Patrick’s Day parade in Atlanta this afternoon.

An article on the station’s website, entitled ‘Big controversy brewing over Irish Prime Minister in Atlanta”, states that Mr Kenny is a “controversial figure in Ireland”.

The reporter says the station’s newsroom has been “flooded” with messages from people planning to boycott or protest at Saturday’s parade.

“Kenny appeared at a ceremony with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed at City Hall on Friday. Kenny is a controversial figure in Ireland, with many people there accusing him of racism and turning his back on the poor,” the article states.

A Facebook page entitled ‘Boycott Atlanta Parade', has received over 700 ‘likes’.

Mr Kenny is this morning attending a breakfast at a Gentleman’s club in Atlanta.

He is due to watch Ireland’s six nations clash with Wales in a local bar before travelling to Austin, Texas for the second leg of his St Patrick’s Day trip.

Online Editors