Mastering a convincing Irish accent is an art form, much like pouring the perfect pint of Guinness. And as with any artistic endeavor, many assume, “Oh, anyone could do that!” only to quickly discover that, in reality, not everyone can. For a non-Irish actor, delivering an authentic Irish accent requires dedication, research, and talent. And just like in all art, failure often brings harsh criticism from reviewers.
In the world of Irish TV and film, there are unfortunately more failures than successes when it comes to capturing the true Irish accent. Poor accents become infamous for their inaccuracy, remembered for lumping all Irish speech into one stereotype. Take Brad Pitt as an IRA member in The Devil’s Own—his attempt was so unconvincing that some joke the Troubles ended the year after the film’s release. Then there’s Gerard Butler’s odd, exaggerated brogue in PS I Love You. Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio were equally disappointing in Gangs of New York. For every good modern example, like Jodie Whittaker and Maxine Peake nailing the tricky Belfast accent in Good Vibrations and Say Nothing, there’s a cringe-worthy failure, such as Helen Mirren’s comical turn in Mobland, which went viral earlier this year. Is it any surprise that author Marian Keyes, whose novel Grown Ups is being adapted for Netflix, recently told an audience at the Hay Festival, “It would be so, so nice if they used actors who can do Irish accents. I mean, the accents are just… I weep. I am corroded with pain.”
Sometimes a bad accent results from forcing a big star into an independent Irish production in a misguided attempt to boost appeal, as seen with Julia Roberts in Michael Collins—the real tragedy of that film. Even being Irish doesn’t guarantee a good performance; Jamie Dornan, from Belfast, couldn’t avoid slipping into a cartoonish leprechaun-like accent in the poorly received Wild Mountain Thyme. Without proper attention to dialect, intonation, and rhythm, Irish accents often fall into lazy clichés: exaggerated “Oirish” pronunciation, ending every sentence with “to be sure,” and always saying “tree” instead of “three.”
It’s enough to discourage any actor from trying, especially English actors who might rightly hesitate when faced with a script requiring a Dublin accent. But James Norton wasn’t one to shy away. In Netflix’s new series House of Guinness, the London-born actor embraces his inner Northsider to play Sean Rafferty, a tough Guinness foreman. As Rafferty, Norton engages in drinking, fighting, romantic encounters, and even delivers some lines in Irish. Yet, it was the accent that concerned him most. He told RTÉ that the challenge lay partly in mastering an 1860s Dublin accent, not a modern one, and partly because he was one of the few English actors on set.
“I was very aware that I had to get it right because in Ireland, everyone can name an actor who’s botched the Irish accent,” he explains. “If you pretend to be Irish and don’t get the accent right, it’s sacrilegious.” Norton doesn’t believe the accent itself is the main hurdle, though: “It’s more that the fear and high expectations surrounding it make it a job in itself.”
House of Guinness repeatedly emphasizes authenticity in Irish language and speech. In one scene, brothers Arthur and Edward Guinness mock each other over Arthur’s English pronunciation after his time at Eton—ironically, in real life, Anthony Boyle, who plays Arthur, has a strong Irish accent, while Louis PaPartridge, who portrays Edward, speaks with a southern English accent. Last week, it was revealed that the series is Netflix’s first original production to offer Irish subtitles. Creator Steven Knight stated, “The Irish language is a crucial element of the country’s culture and identity. By making the show available in this format, we honor that heritage and connect with viewers who prefer to watch in Irish.”
Norton commented on the accessibility, saying, “I don’t find the Irish accent particularly challenging, but with Irish identity being so celebrated, there’s extra pressure. They have a significant cultural impact for a small country, so we might be more sensitive to their accent—we hear it often, leading to closer scrutiny. Everyone seems to have an opinion on an Irish accent.”
Indeed, Irish soft power is more profitable and widespread than ever. “House of Guinness,” an eight-episode series set in 19th-century Dublin, targets an audience that includes Irish-Americans and explores the Guinness family’s legacy. After their father’s death, Arthur and Edward inherit the business, navigating immense wealth and power alongside their siblings Anne and Benjamin. Think of it as “Succession” in south Dublin, with a touch of “Peaky Blinders”-style indulgence, another of Knight’s works.
In essence, the show delves into green power—both monetary and cultural—through the lens of the famous stout. It’s a tale of money, rebellion, and Irish identity. Despite its 1800s setting, the soundtrack features modern Irish bands like Fontaines DC, the Scratch, the Mary Wallopers, and Kneecap. Ireland’s influence, then and now, stems from both economic and cultural capital. As Norton notes, Ireland’s voice is disproportionately loud for its size, and we’re hearing it more frequently.
An accent that gained notoriety for being poorly executed… Helen Mirren as Maeve Harrigan in “Mobland.”
Fionn O’Shea, a Dublin native who plays the disinherited drunkard Benjamin Guinness, reflects, “In the past, people struggled with Irish accents because they had less exposure. There used to be a generic Irish accent that blended elements from all over Ireland. Nowadays, I see actors doing it exceptionally well.”
To perfect Ben’s slurred, hybrid accent—a mix of received pronunciation and Victorian Dublin—O’Shea and Norton collaborated with dialect coach Poll Moussoulides, known for work on “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Normal People,” and “Wednesday.” For “House of Guinness,” Moussoulides researched BBC archives for 19th-century recordings of Dubliners from different social classes and provided line-by-line audio readings of the script.
This level of detail is increasingly common as actors aim to avoid mishaps like Brad Pitt’s accent in “The Devil’s Own.” New York-based dialect coach Erik Singer emphasizes, “Every production should have an accent department with enough staff to support all actors. Mastering an accent is like learning a physical skill, such as horseback riding or guitar playing. Actors need someone monitoring their accent so they can focus on their performance.”
Striving for authenticity… “House of Guinness.”
It’s this meticulous approach that results in well-researched, convincing Irish accents, making it easy to believe that Cate Blanchett truly is a…In the film “Veronica Guerin,” we see Cate Blanchett fully embody the tough investigative journalist, just as Daniel Day-Lucy truly becomes the wrongfully imprisoned innocent man in “In the Name of the Father.” There aren’t necessarily tricks to perfecting an accent, but there are unique features you must focus on. London-based dialect coach Helen Simmons notes, “I’ve had actors struggle with elements like the breathy ‘T’ and the very soft ‘L’ used in southern Irish accents. With a Northern Irish accent, the vowel sounds in words like ‘mouth,’ ‘now,’ and ’round,’ or in ‘you,’ ‘goose,’ and ‘new’ can be particularly challenging. These sounds are distinct to this accent. There are also specific melodic patterns that, if not carefully observed, can make the accent sound inauthentic and even caricatured—which could be offensive to native speakers.”
On-screen Ireland will never perfectly mirror real-life Ireland or its way of speaking. “House of Guinness” presents a more exaggerated and flamboyant vision of Dublin, playing with historical accuracy rather than strictly following it. But let’s be honest: as O’Shea and Norton have pointed out, that’s not what Irish audiences are concerned about. We don’t mind how many explosions, anachronistic soundtracks, or scandalous political plots you include. What matters to us is simple: Can you get the accent right? “House of Guinness” is currently streaming on Netflix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the challenge TV faces with Irish accents framed around the idea that if you dont get it right its sacrilegious
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does If you dont get it right its sacrilegious mean in this context
It means that for Irish people hearing a bad or inauthentic Irish accent on screen is more than just a mistakeit feels like a deep disrespect to their culture and identity
2 Why are Irish accents so hard for actors to do
Irish accents have unique rhythms musicality and specific sounds that dont exist in other English dialects Many actors learn from other bad performances creating a cycle of inaccuracy
3 Can you give an example of a famously bad Irish accent on TV or in film
A classic example is Tom Cruises attempt in Far and Away Its often cited as a wellmeaning but very inaccurate portrayal that Irish audiences find jarring
4 Arent all Irish accents the same
No not at all Ireland has a wide variety of distinct accentsfrom Cork to Dublin to Belfast to Kerryeach with its own unique sound Using the wrong one for a character is a common and noticeable error
5 Whats the big deal Its just an accent
For Irish people an accent is a direct link to their home community and culture A butchered accent breaks the storys immersion and feels like a lazy caricature of their identity
Advanced Practical Questions
6 What are the most common mistakes actors make with Irish accents
They often flatten the unique lyrical rhythm overpronounce the r sound or mix features from different regional accents
7 Whats an example of an Irish accent done well
Caitríona Balfes native accent in Outlander is praised as is Cillian Murphys in Peaky Blinders Brendan Gleeson and Domhnall Gleeson are also frequently highlighted for their authentic portrayals
8 How can a nonIrish actor realistically learn an authentic Irish accent
The best method is to work intensively with a native Irish dialect coach listen to real Irish people speaking
