'Irish alcoholism nature' reason for job rejection for Irish teacher in South Korea

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

'Irish alcoholism nature' reason for job rejection for Irish teacher in South Korea

 

A teacher from the Republic of Ireland has turned down for a job in South Korea due to the "alcoholism nature" of Irish people.

 

Katie Mulrennan, from County Kerry, had applied for a teaching job in Seoul.

 

She was told by an agency that their client did not hire Irish people due to their perceived drinking habits.

 

The 26-year-old told the BBC that she could not believe the e-mail was real at first.

 

"Usually when you apply for a job and they don't want you, they don't send a reply," she said.

 

"Or they tell you they would prefer someone from North America, because some schools prefer the accent.

 

"But this reply was a first. When I got the e-mail, it was so abrupt and short. I actually laughed when I read it initially.

 

"But then I wanted to write back a really angry response.

 

"In the end I took a deep breath and sent back a reply, that was a little bit sarcastic as I couldn't believe the e-mail I had received. But I haven't heard anything back since."

 

 

Katie Mulrennan received the reply after she applied for a job teaching English in Seoul.

 

'Your kind'

 

The teacher had e-mailed the application when a job was advertised on listings website Craigslist in September.

 

She told the agency that she had been teaching English for over three years, in Barcelona, Oxford and Abu Dhabi as well as South Korea.

 

Last week, she received a reply that said: "I am sorry to inform you that my client does not hire Irish people due to the alcoholism nature of your kind".

 

Ms Mulrennan said she did not know who the recruiter was as their details were not listed on the site.

 

However she has reported the advertisement to Craigslist.

 

"It was disappointing because these employers did not even get to see me," she said. "They never spoke to me and didn't get a chance to hear what I sounded like."

 

The English teacher has since found a job and said that she can laugh about what happened.

 

"I was annoyed about it. But I can also see it was a little bit hilarious as well. A friend saw it and encouraged me to post it online as it might go viral.

 

"I thought: 'Really? It's just another silly thing poking fun at Irish people'. But then I put it online and people started getting in touch.

 

"I still love the country and being in Seoul."

 

Source: BBC News

[Dick Montage]

Well, it's a fair comment ;)

 

Not really.  It's horrendously prejudiced.

[margrave]

Racism .... plain and simple.

[articuno1au]

Nationalism >.>

[MikeChipshop Member]

Riiiiiight... does this person really think that's the case with all Irish and Irish descent?

 

Pretty sure that can't be legal?

[xrobwx71]

 I'm Irish and an alcoholic, well recovering. I haven't had a drink in almost 2 years. When I did drink, my work ethic was superb.

[neufuse Veteran]

In other news, we refuse to hire Americans due to their obesity and southern cowboy accents

[Knife Party]

 I'm Irish and an alcoholic, well recovering. I haven't had a drink in almost 2 years. When I did drink, my work ethic was superb.

:laugh:

[tiagosilva29]

Coming from a Korean... wow.

[simplezz]

Nice stereotyping there.

[Prince Charming]

If the shoe fits.

[Ryoken]

I'll give the guy props on at least stating a reason, bad as it is.. Most places may say no to you for an equally trivial reason, but just tell you some BS... or nothing at all.

[Hum]

I'll drink with an Irish any time

[compl3x]

Racism and prejudice outside the West is pretty common and many places have no legislation or viable legal means for recourse.

 

The West is hardly perfect when it comes to racial and ethnic cohesion but it's a damn sight better than most of the rest of the world's handling of it.

[ACTIONpack]

I'm Irish and an alcoholic, well recovering. I haven't had a drink in almost 2 years. When I did drink, my work ethic was superb.

Why did you stop drinking?

[xrobwx71]

Why did you stop drinking?

Short answer, I got tired of the hangovers and money disappearing and the adverse effects on my health.Because I do not have an "off switch". I can't have "a couple of beers" and go home. It's always a few beers turn into 10 then a trip to the liquor store/bar till 4AM+. It's not conducive for life with a job/family. (For me anyway)