Guide to a Northern Irish Accent

As voiceover artists, we’re sometimes asked to perform accents outside our native region. In November, we published a guide to regional English accents, and now we’re following up with this guide to the Northern Irish accent.

This sometimes-maligned but undeniably distinctive accent is gaining popularity across TV, radio, and film. More Northern Irish talent is making it into the spotlight, and as a voice artist, it never hurts to have one more accent under your belt.

Quick note: I don’t offer this accent professionally – but I’ve created this page to help others looking to learn it or use it in their own performances. I specialise in British male voiceover work and character voiceovers, but hopefully this guide helps you sound a bit more Belfast, even if you're from Birmingham.

Scroll down to learn a few Northern Irish celebrity voices, regional quirks, and common sounds to practise!

Listen to Northern Irish Celebrities

The first tip is to listen to as many Northern Irish celebrities’ voices as possible. Often, when we’re asked to do a regional accent, we’re really being asked to sound like a specific celebrity, so this is a great place to start. It also helps to have a specific impression in mind, instead of simply trying to do the accent. Focusing on doing an impression of a famous Northern Irish actor or actress could give you a way into the Northern Irish accent in general. Some well-known Northern Irish celebrities you might like to listen to:
- Christine Blakely (TV presenter)
- Eamonn Holmes (TV presenter)
- Nadine Coyle (singer in Girls Aloud)
- Eddie Irvine (racing driver)
- Jamie Dornan (actor)
- Rory McIlroy (golfer)
- David Healy (footballer)
- Van Morrison (singer)
- Colin Murray (radio DJ)
- James Nesbitt (actor)
- Zöe Salmon (TV presenter)
- Liam Neeson (actor)

The R Sound in Northern Irish Accents

One of the aspects of the Northern Irish accent that sets it apart from many other UK accents is the letter R at the end of words. All Northern Irish accents (that’s right, there are lots!) use a pronounced rhotic R on words that end with the letter R. Most English regional accents (with the exception of the West Country) do not say a rhotic R at the end of a word. If you can’t tell quite what a rhotic R is, say the word ‘career’. The first R you come across in the word will be rhotic and the second might not be. In Northern Irish, both Rs are rhotic. So, if you want to say the word ‘car’, say ‘career’ and take the ‘eer’ off the end. Another way of capturing this sound is to say the letter R loudly and embrace your inner pirate. Say ‘Arrr’ and really pronounce that R. Put a K in front of that pirate ‘arrr’ and you’re probably on the right track!

The -ow Vowel Sound in Northern Irish Accents

Another important sound you’ll have to practice is the ‘ow’ vowel sound. In Northern Ireland, they have a very tight, rigid mouth when they say ‘cow’, ‘now’, or ‘how’ and this makes the sound shorter and less round than most other UK accents. This sound is a little more like a ‘Y’ than a ‘W’ to many people’s ears, but it’s not the same as a Y. This sound is perhaps the trickiest part of capturing the Northern Irish accent, but it’s essential.

The ‘ow’ sound also sounds a little different in the middle of a word. Take ‘flower’, for example: while an RP English accent may say ‘flaow-wuh’, the Northern Irish accent says something a little like ‘floy-yer’ or ‘flarr’. The vowel sound is shorted so much that the word sometimes sounds like one syllable. This is a tricky sound for anyone outside of Northern Ireland to get right because no one else does something similar. But, practice makes perfect, and make sure you listen to how the natives say it when you start to struggle.

Add a Few Northern Irish Words or Phrases

Even a slightly dodgy accent can be saved if you throw in a few well-known phrases. A handful of these can really help sell your performance. Here are some examples:

• Wee – means ‘small’, but also used to make things sound friendlier. E.g. “I'll have a cheeky wee pint.”
• Bout ye – means “how are you?” (Short for “what about you?”)
• Banjaxed – completely broken or knackered. “My back’s banjaxed!”
• Craic – means gossip/fun. “What’s the craic?” or “He’s good craic.”
• Aye – just like in Scotland, it means “yes.”
• Awk – often used like “ahh” or “ohhh” in front of a sentence. “Awk sure, leave it with me.”

Listen to native speakers and try dropping these into your delivery naturally. And if you’d like a hand with a character voice or a bespoke accent impression, get in touch. I’m always happy to chat!