US mayor apologises for Irish gaffe
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has apologised for a comment he made about public drunkenness at an American Irish Historical Society event.
Mr Bloomberg said he did not mean to offend anyone in his comments about the society's Manhattan headquarters.
He said normally when he walks by the building "there are a bunch of people that are totally inebriated hanging out the window waving".
Members of the Irish American community criticised the mayor.
He said he was talking about a party the society has yearly during the St Patrick's Day Parade.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the remarks were "surprising and inappropriate" given the mayor's long history of support for the Irish community. She said she was pleased he apologised.