Pierce Brosnan Says His Irish Accent in MobLand Is from Kerry — Critics Aren’t Convinced
Pierce Brosnan’s latest role as the head of an Irish crime family in the new Paramount+ series MobLand has everyone talking — but not for the reasons he might have hoped. The series is pulling in strong viewership numbers, with 8.8 million global viewers in its first week, yet Brosnan’s accent has taken centre stage in the conversation.
A Kerry Accent or Just Confusion?
Though Brosnan is Irish-born — from Drogheda, raised in Navan — many viewers and critics found his accent in MobLand to be, at best, wildly inconsistent and, at worst, baffling. Social media lit up with comments like “Pierce Brosnan’s accent is doing laps of the entire country,” and “Man’s gone from Cork to Dublin and back to Kerry mid-sentence.”
Writer Maddy Mussen called it a “rogue Irish accent” that was so distracting, it nullified any real sense of menace Brosnan’s character might have conveyed. Others said the accent sounded exaggerated and, surprisingly, “offensive” given Brosnan’s Irish heritage.
Brosnan’s Take: It’s Kerry
Despite the uproar, Brosnan insists it’s all intentional. On The Dave Moore Podcast, he explained that director Guy Ritchie encouraged him to lean into an Irish accent just 15 minutes before shooting a critical scene. With little time to prepare, Brosnan opted for a Kerry accent: “Kerry has a lovely singsong lilt to it, and a bite to it. It gave me the character.”
Brosnan acknowledged that decades in California had dulled his native cadence: “My Irish accent has kind of dissipated into the mists of time.” Nevertheless, he committed to the Kerry angle, hoping it would lend his character, Conrad Harrigan, a unique blend of humour and menace.
Support from a Co-Star
Not everyone is laughing. Lisa Dwan, a fellow Irish actor in MobLand, defended Brosnan’s portrayal: “I knew immediately he was doing a Kerry accent… I could hear it. It sounded quite authentic to me.” She even suggested the over-the-top tone complemented the chaotic energy of Brosnan’s violent, unpredictable character.
Verdict: Accent or Accident?
Whether Brosnan’s Kerry accent is convincing or cringe-inducing might depend on your own ear for Irish regionalisms. One thing’s certain — it’s got people watching, debating, and most importantly, talking about MobLand.
For an actor whose roots lie firmly in Ireland, Brosnan’s take on a Kerry mob boss might not be perfect — but it’s bold. And in TV drama, bold sometimes works better than precise.
📺 MobLand is now streaming on Paramount+.
🗣️ What did you think of Pierce’s Kerry accent? Spot on or way off? Join the discussion in our Love Ireland Facebook Group!
Watch As Liam Neeson shows off his Irish accent
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