The Ancient Order of Hibernians is demanding "a full public apology" from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee after the ambassador described the Irish as having “fallen into a vat of Guinness," that they were committing an act of "diplomatic drunkenness" and after he told Ireland to “sober up” - this in response to the Irish government's desire to pass the "Occupied Territories Bill."
The bill, which is expected to come up for a vote in the fall, would put a lid on imports of goods from land seen by the Irish government as Palestinian, but occupied by Israeli settlers.
The AOH, in a statement, said that Ambassador Huckabee's language "revives 19th‑century anti‑Irish caricatures and distracts from any serious diplomatic discussion."
“No one can credibly condemn hatred while dipping their pen into the poisoned stereotypes that once fueled anti‑Irish bigotry,” said Neil F. Cosgrove, AOH Anti‑Defamation Chairman.
“We unequivocally oppose antisemitism, but invoking a tired ‘drunken Irish’ trope only offends millions of Irish and Irish‑Americans and weakens the rational discussion of any concerns.”
The AOH, referring to a letter it has sent to Ambassador Huckabee, said that it "demands an unqualified retraction and apology and urges respectful, stereotype‑free engagement going forward."
The letter from Neil Cosgrove states: "On behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), the oldest and largest Irish‑American organization in the United States, I write in my capacity as Anti‑Defamation Chairman to register our grave concern over your 16 July post on X asking whether “the Irish [had] fallen into a vat of Guinness”, accused them of “diplomatic drunkenness” and urged Ireland to “sober up” and apologize for its draft Occupied Territories Bill.
"As an organization founded to combat attacks against immigrant Irish Catholics, the AOH unequivocally condemns antisemitism, just as we condemn every form of bigotry. Yet no one can credibly denounce hatred while dipping their pen into the poisoned stereotypes that once fueled anti‑Irish discrimination in America. Depicting Irish people as drunken or irrational revives a caricature long used to question our community’s competence, patriotism, and even humanity.
"Words matter - particularly when spoken by a U.S. ambassador. Your remark derailed constructive debate, insulted millions of Irish and Irish‑Americans, and undermined serious consideration of any substantive concerns you may hold. Ad hominem is no substitute for rational argument.
"We therefore request a public retraction and unqualified apology for the ethnic slurs contained in your post. The AOH stands ready to work with Jewish, Irish, and American partners to oppose antisemitism. That shared cause is best advanced when our discourse is free of the very prejudices we seek to eradicate. We look forward to your prompt response.
The remarks by Ambassador Huckabee and the resulting AOH riposte comes at moment when there is an apparent widening rift between Dublin and Washington over the Irish government's Occupied Territories Bill.
That rift is being most glaringly reflected in the comments from Jerusalem by Ambassador Huckabee, a onetime presidential hopeful.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin quickly rejected Huckabee's assertion.
The Irish Times reported: "Mike Huckabee’s comments came amid similar criticisms from a number of senior US politicians, who warned the Government that enacting the Occupied Territories Bill would be harmful for Ireland.
"The proposed Bill is expected to go before the Dáil in the autumn. The legislation would prohibit trading with companies operating in illegal settlements in the West Bank and other occupied territories.
"At least ten members of Congress have shared their criticisms of the Bill on X (formerly Twitter) in what would appear to be a concerted campaign."
The taoiseach, in responding to Huckabee, said: “I reject the comments made by the ambassador. The situation is very serious in Gaza, including an appalling loss of human life. Terrible war crimes are being committed.”
There was “continuing shocking behaviour” in the West Bank, including “the freedom that’s given to extreme settlers to destroy settlements and housing belonging to Palestinians who’ve been there on that land for generations."
The Occupied Territories Bill has prompted accusations of Anti-Semitism by some members of Congress, but this has been strongly rejected by the Irish government.
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