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Craicnet

English accents in Ireland

56 replies

Bid876 · 03/01/2022 22:07

Hi, I’ve read on a couple of posts recently about an anti English sentiment in some areas of the ROI. Before moving here I was secretly worried about this. I come from a big Irish family in the UK, my parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents all Irish, so I was brought up to believe I was Irish. But I knew that not everyone in Ireland would feel that way. My DF was from a very anti English town, after an incident in the 70s when he had taken my Nan home to bury her sister his life was threatened by some very dangerous men, for no other reason that when they over heard him talking they didn’t hear the Irish accent he’d received abuse for in England, his accent was too English for their liking. Some of his cousins stuck him out of Ireland that night and got my Nan out the next day. That was the last time he or any of his family went home until he was terminally ill a few years ago.

When my DH was offered a job here I was worried about this, my parents grew up being bullied and abused for having an Irish accent in England, even as adults and I didn’t want the same happening to my children having an English accent in Ireland. Since moving here though I’ve been very relieved as I’ve not come across anything like this at all. My children absolutely love school and have been very welcomed, the same with any clubs I’ve signed them up for, which is all I cared about.

However, we may need to move out of the area we have settled in as it’s really hard to find houses in our price bracket. I wasnt worried about moving until I read other peoples posts on their experiences of being English in Ireland. Now I’m worried that we could move to an area that’s not as welcoming.

So the purpose of my post is to ask of those who do live in areas that you have have had problems, would you be willing to share those areas?

OP posts:
qazxc · 03/01/2022 22:21

I speak with an English accent and have lived in Ireland for about 25 years. I did have some issues at first but it's been years since I've had any negative reactions from the way I speak. I think the times have changed and things are easier now. ( I have lived in counties Dublin, Meath and Louth).

DramaAlpaca · 03/01/2022 22:24

I live in the mid-West. I've been here over 20 years. I can honestly say I've never experienced any negativity from having an English accent.

Atla · 03/01/2022 22:29

I've lived in Northern Ireland for 13 years (in a predominantly nationalist area) and travelled a lot in ROI and I've had maybe 2 negative reactions to my accent - both were years ago.

I do find people tend to remember me because of my accent (it's a small town Grin) but that doesn't bother me.

Atla · 03/01/2022 22:32

Both of mine were alcohol fuelled comments - 1 from a drunk patient in ED and the other from one of DH's mates (who gave me a grovelling apology when sober).

Janeandjohnny · 04/01/2022 09:37

Where do you want to move to?

Rockbird · 04/01/2022 09:41

From Meath although born here. Have never had a problem with my English accent, except perhaps that every fucker in a 50 mile radius knows who I am Grin

Nathlash · 04/01/2022 09:49

Through a stick around here (rural Munster) and you’ll hit an English person. When we moved home from England, London-born DS had a very cut-glass English accent. He never had any negative responses.

Bid876 · 04/01/2022 11:33

These are all reassuring, thank you.

The area’s we have in mind are Wexford and Waterford.

OP posts:
bestdhever · 04/01/2022 11:39

@Bid876 I'm in the area you are looking at and my dh is from the U.K. he has had no issues whatsoever.

Atla · 04/01/2022 11:41

Ooo I'd love to live there!

Gonnagetgoing · 04/01/2022 11:43

My stepdad is Irish from Sligo. He’s lived in London for years and his Irish accent is gone. When he goes home it becomes more prominent but still quite faint. Never had any issues himself with fellow Irish.

Ifailed · 04/01/2022 11:45

First went to Ireland in the 80s with DP visiting family. Has some nasty looks when in Monaghan, but never a problem further south in Kerry.
Given what was going on, it's not really surprising.

Totalwasteofpaper · 04/01/2022 11:53

@Bid876

These are all reassuring, thank you.

The area’s we have in mind are Wexford and Waterford.

My family is all in Waterford I spend a fair amount of time there and have a decidedly English accent. Honestly I do notice it butttttt the worst I get is short /terse responses and a bit of cats bum face.

I find in coffee shops / clothes shops smiles drop and conversations can turn a bit cold when my accent is “revealed”

Eg in a clothes shop my Irish mum is chatting away happily to me and the sales assistant/owner comes up to chat, all jolly jolly… I say “oh this dress is lovely” then I get cats bum face and a “yes. It is.” And a turned back from them 😂

Cant say I particularly care…

Alfixn · 04/01/2022 11:54

Times have changed now OP, I'm in rural munster, English accents all over the place and have worked with tons of English people, people will take you at face value no matter where you're from, and if you're a nice person you will be welcomed regardless of nationality!

saleorbouy · 04/01/2022 12:08

Lived in Waterford 6 years and never had an issue since moving over from North U.K.
My OH is local but I'm English. Prior to meeting my OH 15 years ago I worked all around Ireland and travelled extensively with my brother in our early 20's in the SE & SW.
I have never encountered any anti English sentiment except when the England scoreline is greater than the Irish one during rugby matches Grin, it's only ever been friendly banter in the village pub.
Everyone has been very accepting of our family and our neighbours and locals have done an immense amount to help us settle and feel part of the community.
I would say that it's probably more friendly here than where we lived in the UK, most people have plenty of time for chats.
OP Waterford, and surrounding areas are beautiful so I'm sure you'll find a nice place to call home soon.

Bid876 · 04/01/2022 18:26

@Totalwasteofpaper haha love the cats bum face.

I did lots of travelling when I was younger and encountered lots of anti English problems especially at airports, I remember once in Germany being treated so rudely and aggressively, then when I produced my passport I got “o your Irish, I thought you sounded English” their all attitude changed. It happened in the states too. After that I made a point of always travelling on my Irish passport and having it in my hands with the harp facing forward 😆

OP posts:
Scutterbug · 04/01/2022 18:28

Lived in county Kerry with no issues.

kissmelittleass · 04/01/2022 20:26

I'm English lived in Ireland a number of years now and have experienced similar to previous poster of conversation dropped smile frozen when I reply in my English accent.
All my family are Irish but I've been told that doesn't make you Irish! I never said it did!
My ds who has an English accent has a lot of confrontations very upsetting, he's had a guy come up to his face last year shouting give me back my six counties in a pub, he's had money thrown at him because " your a English bastard'from drunk idiots late at night when he worked in a popular take away service which is why he left when he needed the money whilst at college.
Quite a few more incidents with my ds at school because he spoke with an English accent even one comment from a teacher, we like it here though so have persevered but I don't know if I'll stay here forever.
Everyone has a different experience this is just ours and unfortunately in one of the areas you've mentioned but yours could be totally difficult.

kissmelittleass · 04/01/2022 20:27

Different not difficult!!!

honeyrider · 05/01/2022 00:40

I'm in Waterford and there are plenty of English people living her, half of my circle of friends are English and love it here and haven't had any negative experiences.

My older son was born in London and we moved back when he was young, he had such a clear English accent but acquired an Irish accent shortly after starting school.

Abhannmor · 05/01/2022 13:43

@Bid876

These are all reassuring, thank you.

The area’s we have in mind are Wexford and Waterford.

Never lived in either but spent a bit of time in Wexford recently. Quite a few English accents. The Wexford accent sounds vaguely English to me now after 30 years in Cork. Might be some residual anti British sentiment on places where the Tans were operating. My London born kids would just talk a bit of Irish to annoy any schoolmate who teased then lol. It's more multiracial now anyway so I doubt it would be problem.
Mufasa1118 · 05/01/2022 13:53

I'm English born to an Irish mother and we moved over from England to Ireland.

I have had nasty comments said to me in Ireland. I'm in midlands Ireland. I won't say the exact county but I'm in laois/offaly/westmeath.

Whatsdamatta · 05/01/2022 15:54

@kissmelittleass

I'm English lived in Ireland a number of years now and have experienced similar to previous poster of conversation dropped smile frozen when I reply in my English accent. All my family are Irish but I've been told that doesn't make you Irish! I never said it did! My ds who has an English accent has a lot of confrontations very upsetting, he's had a guy come up to his face last year shouting give me back my six counties in a pub, he's had money thrown at him because " your a English bastard'from drunk idiots late at night when he worked in a popular take away service which is why he left when he needed the money whilst at college. Quite a few more incidents with my ds at school because he spoke with an English accent even one comment from a teacher, we like it here though so have persevered but I don't know if I'll stay here forever. Everyone has a different experience this is just ours and unfortunately in one of the areas you've mentioned but yours could be totally difficult.
This plus the ‘cats bum face’ unfortunately Hmm
Mufasa1118 · 05/01/2022 16:04

What is really sad about this is that a lot of people with English accents in Ireland have Irish heritage. Usually an Irish parent.

Yet we still get abused for being English. How does that make sense. I never understood that. It's like abusing your own.

I was born in England . I've an Irish mother.

I've been abused many times in Ireland, for being English.

It's rough.

It definitely made me feel like I was worth absolutely nothing. It has affected my self esteem to this day.

frogswimming · 05/01/2022 16:12

I'm English and have lived in Dublin for 18 years. I have never had any negative experience because of my accent.

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