Members of Manchester’s Irish Travelling community gathered in the city centre in protest against Mulligans Irish pub following claims door staff allegedly refused entry to a group of young men
Members of the Travelling community have confronted door staff at an Irish pub where men were allegedly turned away as some shouted “you should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Travellers including Tommy Joyce and Paddy Doherty staged a protest in Manchester following allegations that a long-established city centre pub denied entry to a group of young men. Mobile phone footage seems to show door staff at Mulligans Irish pub turning away a group of young men seemingly because of their affiliation with the Irish travelling community.
A video circulating on social media appears to capture a security guard at Mulligans Irish pub in Manchester city centre in a conversation with a group of men, during which he states ‘this is not my decision’. One of the men retorts: “Basically, what you’re saying is Travellers aren’t allowed in Mulligans pub’.
The doorman can be heard stating that the manager won’t engage with them, adding: “That’s what they’re saying.”
This afternoon, members of Manchester’s Irish traveller community congregated in the city centre to demonstrate against the incident.
The protest started at St Peter’s Square and culminated with a gathering outside the pub on Southgate off Deansgate, reports the Manchester Evening News. Footage on the MEN website shows Travellers telling door staff they “should be ashamed.” Another can be heard saying: “I want to know why.”
The protest has been organised by Tommy Joyce, a well-known member of Manchester’s Irish traveller community, supported by TV personality, Paddy Doherty, star of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and Celebrity Big Brother.
Speaking to the M.E.N. earlier this week Tommy said the incident left the young men – all said to be from the same family – upset. They are said to have ended their night there and then and went home.
Mr Joyce said: “They literally refused them entry because they’re Irish Travellers. They were asked and they said they were Irish Travellers because they’re proud of their heritage. If they hadn’t spoken, they would have been allowed in.
“This is 2026. How can this be allowed to happen? It’s discrimination. We’re going to highlight this because we’re human beings. We’ve grown up in Manchester. I’m from Collyhurst. I feel like because of the way we speak we’re not allowed in the pubs and clubs in town.”
He said today: “What I see in the city…it’s going back to the 70s and 80s.”
Earlier this week, a spokesperson for Mulligans insisted that the pub welcomes individuals from all walks of life, takes pride in its own Irish heritage and is ‘reviewing the matter internally’.
They added: “Mulligans is aware of a video circulating on social media and the planned protest this weekend, and takes the concerns raised very seriously.
“We want to be absolutely clear: Mulligans welcomes customers of all backgrounds. As a pub proud of its own Irish heritage, the suggestion that we would discriminate against any community is something we take particularly seriously.
“We have many valued customers from the Traveller community, and there is no blanket policy to refuse entry on the basis of ethnicity or background.
“We operate a very strict door policy because we want Mulligans to be a safe and welcoming environment for every customer.
“Like all licensed venues, we do refuse entry where specific individuals have previously caused issues on the premises – this policy applies equally to everyone, regardless of background.
“We are reviewing the matter internally and have already been in direct contact with members of the community and are committed to continuing that conversation.”