A DONEGAL nightclub has been accused of insulting people with red hair after it organised a “Shag a Ginger” promotion night.
The event at Pulse Nightclub in Letterkenny is aimed at students attending the nearby Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
Posters promoting the event - due to take place tonight - have been posted online and feature pictures of condoms.
The entertainment venue has offered free entry to anyone with red hair. It will also have hairdressers on hand for anyone who wants to dye their hair red as well as providing free condoms.
One family in Co Donegal has already raised their concerns about the promotion with Gardaí claiming their daughter was “cyber-bullied” as a result of the event.
The matter was also raised by Donegal parish priest, Fr Lorcan Ó Searcaigh from Glenfin who described it as an insult.
The priest told Raidió na Gaeltachta he had been contacted by a number of parents angered by the promotion who felt it was a form of “bullying” against people with red hair.
“I was disgusted to hear the theme of this event. The parents really feel that it’s a form of bullying,” he said.
Fr Ó Searcaigh said he contacted Pulse Nightclub and was told it was “just a gimmick”.
“I told them that if they had to stoop that low to get people in, they shouldn’t be in business at all.”
Fr Ó Searcaigh said he had also raised the issue with Gardaí but was told no law had been broken as there were no laws against discrimination on the grounds of appearance.
The Students’ Union at Letterkenny IT distanced itself from the promotion yesterday. Student Union president Dylan McGowan said the event had nothing to do with the Union.
“We are not speaking as we are not associated with it - it’s the nightclub and it’s their problem,” Mr McGowan said.
