An Irish pizza restaurant has been criticised for posting a "sexist" job advert to its Facebook page.

Pizza Soprano, in Navan, Co. Meath, recently shared a post stating that they were looking for a "bright, open and hardworking girl" to fill their position. They also requested that applicants send a photo of themselves. The ad, which has since been deleted from Pizza Sopranos Facebook page, read:

"Due to the development of Pizza Soprano we are looking for a girl to work with us. "I'm looking for a bright, open and hardworking girl. A girl that is not afraid of challenges and is very open to people. "She also needs to be outgoing and positive. Please contact me if interested and send a CV and photo of yourself."

Facebook users were quick to criticise the ad's specification of female applicants and the pizza restaurant's request for a photograph. “That’s incredibly sexist of you and shallow," wrote one person. “Why do you need it to specifically be a girl and why on earth do you need to see a photo of any applicants?" asked another. Pizza Soprano's Grzegorz Grzegorzewski has since apologised for the "wording" of his advertisement. He wrote:

"As a Polish man living and working in Ireland I have been humbled by the age old saying, 'Ireland, the country of a thousand welcomes.' "Ireland, in particular Navan has welcomed myself and my family with open arms. We have made a home here and whenever the people of Navan fancy a pizza we are here with open doors to cater for one and all. "I would like to take this opportunity to aplogise for the wording of my job advertisement. Anyone who knows me from coming into the restaurant knows that I am a warm and friendly guy with a big heart and knows that I would not knowingly offend anyone."