NYC mayor apologizes for comment at Irish event

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is apologizing for a comment he made about public drunkenness at an American Irish Historical Society event.

Bloomberg says he didn't mean to offend anyone in his comments Wednesday evening 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 criticized the mayor.

He says he was talking about a party the society has yearly during the St. Patrick's Day Parade.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Thursday the remarks were "surprising and inappropriate" given the mayor's long history of support for the Irish community. She says she's pleased he apologized.