ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER unrealistic portrayal of Irish people on American television.
The latest culprit is American Gods, a television show based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name.
The show, which airs on Starz and Amazon Prime, features a mean leprechaun (we know) by the name of Mad Sweeney. Mad Sweeney is played by actor Pablo Schreiber and let’s just say that his accent is as authentic as a Dropkick Murphys song.
Schreiber’s dodgy accent has become a talking point among viewers.
Last night, the show aired an episode delving into Mad Sweeney’s origin story. Among the characters to make an appearance in the episode was Essie McGowan, an Irishwoman with a fondness for leprechauns and spinning yarns. (Because if there are two things Irish people love…)
The character is played by Emily Browning and while her accent isn’t by any means atrocious, her spiel is mortifying.
Ballybogs, no doubt, they can be reasoned with. Leprechauns. They’re a different story altogether. Help you with your troubles one day, bite your eyes out the next.
Ah yes. Nothing more Irish than talking about how two-faced leprechauns are.
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The episode also featured the aforementioned Mad Sweeney cursing as Gaeilge, which has led to people frantically trying to ascertain its meaning. Bless ‘em.
Memo to Irish people: some Americans think cursing in Irish is “hot af”.
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Do with that information what you will.
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