In our first episode of Season 4, we take on the Irish Accent: where did it come from? What secrets might it hide? And why is it so often an issue of contention? Tim speaks to accent expert Shane Walshe of Zurich University about how Irish accents are seen by the wider world, Naomi talks with Senator Lynn Ruane about why some Irish accents can lead to discrimination and marginalisation, and most importantly we hear from our own listeners about the complications, the poetry, and the personal histories contained in every individual accent.

In this episode we asked our listeners to take the “accent challenge”. Below is the list of words they were asked to pronounce:

Wash, Oil, Theater, Data, Crayon, Ruin, Spitting Image, Toilet, Syrup, Aunt, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Again, Both, Probably, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, New Orleans.

We’ve published a bonus episode featuring a full interview with Senator Lynn Ruane on class and inequality in Ireland over on our Patreon page www.patreon.com/theirishpassport.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @PassportIrish.

Special thanks to The Mary Wallopers, for the use of their fantastic track “Cod Liver oil and Orange Juice”.