Well… this is awkward.
The Irish language can be tough – but thinking a political party is actually a leader’s name is a basically a massive fail.
Just to clarify – Sinn Fein is a major Irish nationalist political party, and not a single person named ‘Sinn Fein’. They also definitely are not the DUP.
Irish journalist Aoife Grace Moore, who is living in Oz, was quick to spot this error from Sky News Australia and highlight it via her Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/aoifegracemoore/status/875670519370076160
The article they shared featured an image of Gerry Adams, the fact that he’s also now a member of the DUP is quite interesting too:
“Democratic Unionist Party’s Sinn Féin says he will oppose any deal with UK Prime Minister Theresa May that undermines a 1998 peace deal.”
Again, we must reiterate, we KNOW that people make mistakes. That doesn’t stop the hilarity from ensuing online:
To be fair, I thought Gerry Adams was called Sinn Fein. Until I was about six.
— Mark (@worgztheowl) June 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/johnawhistler/status/875831368978055168
https://twitter.com/sophcw/status/875833608749162496
Can you give me 1500 words on Irish politician Fiona Fáil?
— Steven Gabb (@stevegabb) June 16, 2017
A positive thing to come out of this blunder is that it looks like the journalist in question could get a job out of it!
We're looking for reporters @FTAdviser and @InvestAdviser … not based in NI sadly but we do know what Sinn Fein is. Send us your CV?
— Simoney Kyriakou (@MoorgateMermaid) June 17, 2017
Fair play Aoife!