Limerick
Rugby pundit and radio broadcaster George Hook has apologised to the people of Limerick after making a joke in public about the city’s infamous nickname “Stab City”.
Hook, who works for RTÉ Television and Newstalk radio, made the comments at an official function in St Mary’s College rugby club, Dublin, last Saturday.
During a speech, Hook told an audience of about 150 he had been asked by Limerick mayor Jim Long to join a campaign to change Limerick’s nickname from “Stab City” to “Fab City”.
“The following morning I opened up the paper and read two men were ‘fabbed’ in Limerick city last night,” Hook told the crowd.
While some people laughed, others – including a delegation from Limerick rugby club Young Munster – said the comments were deeply offensive.
Yesterday, Hook apologised on Limerick radio station Live 95FM. “If I thought for one second that I’d hurt one person, let alone a city and its population, then I would unreservedly apologise for it. I have no problem saying I am sorry, absolutely none,” he said.
Laura Ryan, head of the Limerick Communications Office stated: “Mr Hook’s attempt at humour . . . was a bit crass and ill-advised. It crossed the line between a bit of banter and a cheap jibe and was just completely unnecessary.”
Last week VIP magazine publisher Michael O’Doherty also publicly apologised for making derogatory remarks about Limerick on the TV3 programme Come Dine With Me.