A New York-based Limerick man has taken out a $800 half-page advertisement in the Irish-American newspaper, the Irish Echo, inviting people to bring copies of Frank McCourt's best-seller, Angela's Ashes, to a book-burning ceremony on March 11th.
Mr Dave Crowe, who runs the three Lily Flanagan bars in Long Island, New York, with his brother, Niall, and Mr Gerry O'Brien, said he had organised the event because of the disgust he felt at the way his native city was treated in the novel and the film of the same name.
Mr O'Brien, who is also from Limerick, said the three partners were involved and were adamant about going ahead with the book burning on a patio outside their bar at Rockville Centre, Long Island.
"We have quite a lot of support, believe it or not. We are getting a major amount of calls from people throughout the US," he said.
Mr Crowe, who has been in the US since 1983, added that the film's depiction of Limerick was the final blow. He wanted to make a statement and he was entitled to register his protest at the book by burning it. "You can burn the American flag in this country and not go to jail, not that I would ever do it, but it is freedom of expression."
McCourt, who has been dogged by protest at the events depicted in the book, particularly since the film was released, said he had been a teacher for 30 years and books were sacred to him. It was a return to the 1930s, he said, referring to the book-burning in the Nazi era.
"It is a sad business that people have to burn books. There are other ways of dealing with it. If you do not want to read a book, do not. Do not draw attention to it."