Netflix's new period drama House of Guinness has been a hit with US and UK reviewers, earning an 89% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and glowing write-ups in outlets such as The Guardian and the Los Angeles Times. However, Irish critics have roundly panned the series, calling it a 'shocker' that trades in historical inaccuracies and clichés.
The show, created by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, follows the Guinness brewing dynasty in 1860s Dublin. While praised abroad for its style and entertainment value, Irish reviewers have taken issue with its portrayal of Irish history, dialogue, and costumes. The Irish Times described the lead character, played by English actor James Norton, as sounding like 'a steampunk Mr Tayto' – a reference to an Irish crisp brand mascot – and said the Fenian revolutionaries 'dress and speak like feral leprechauns'.
The Irish Independent lamented that the show 'fritters away any sense of authenticity', with clichés arriving 'thick and fast' and characters swearing excessively. The review warned that while the series is billed as fiction, 'the majority of our popular history is fiction, and quite dangerous fiction at that'. Social media users also mocked the costume design, with one Reddit comment asking why all the Fenians were wearing 'literal spirit Halloween leprechaun costumes'.
Comedian Garron Noone, who has over 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, noted that the first episode takes just three minutes and 45 seconds for a character to shout 'Free Ireland from the English'. He mockingly praised a 'Guinness-pouring tutorial' scene and a funeral brawl, but deducted points for the lack of sandwiches at the funeral, saying that is 'very true to our culture'.
Despite the backlash, some aspects of the show have been praised, including Norton's performance and accent, the soundtrack featuring contemporary Irish bands like Fontaines DC and Kneecap, and the big-budget sets. However, Irish critics remain unimpressed, with The Irish Examiner headlining its review 'all pour, no pint'.
