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A student university club that planned to host a St Patrick's Day party featuring their very own 'leprechaun' has copped significant backlash, leading to the actor being sacked from the job.
Students were alerted to the shindig after promoters from DNA Events Manchester shared their club night specials with their mailing list via a WhatsApp group chat.
As a result, Irish students living in Manchester kicked right off.
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One student, who wished to remain unnamed, told the Manchester Evening News: "Obviously this is highly offensive. I’ve suffered high levels of racism, which doesn’t seem to be held in the same regard as other kinds of racism in the UK. And this stereotypical leprechaun business is just ridiculous.
"Obviously it’s been much discussed among university students who are Irish, and I know I’ve received several messages from people saying 'oh my god, have you seen this? It’s horrible'."
They added: "People [are] saying ‘I cannot believe that’s real’."
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The student went on to reveal they were 'shocked but not surprised' by the club's planned event for St Patrick's Day.
They said it was 'nothing new' and obviously ramps up around this time of the year, but they shouldn't have to laugh it off or tolerate it because this type of 'treatment' wouldn't be acceptable in other ethnic communities.
But it seems the Irish will not have to laugh anything off, with DNA Events Manchester confirming they have now cut Harry Potter actor Greg Doherty's role from the night.
They revealed to the Manchester Evening News they have listened to what the public had to say about their plans, and have made 'the decision to cancel this element of the show'.
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Doherty, however, revealed he was not offended by the club booking and does not see it as a slur against himself or his homeland.
"As you can imagine, with a name like Doherty, I am of Irish descent. Both my parents are Irish and I carry an Irish passport. I am incredibly proud to be of Irish heritage," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"I do not consider dressing up as a mythical creature offensive/or a racial slur against the people of Ireland."
He added: "Not sure if you’ve ever travelled to Ireland on Saint Patrick’s Day, but the iconography of a leprechaun is as iconic as a shillelagh or a shamrock."
Rachel Lang