Like feral leprechauns' Guinness romp leaves bitter taste in Ireland

The new Netflix show House of Guinness appears to have everything: a topnotch cast, sumptuous cinematography and a story billed as a cross between Succession and Peaky Blinders, a combination that has made it a ratings hit and drawn rave reviews.

- Rory Carroll

US and British critics have lauded the tale of the brewing dynasty as a stylish and entertaining romp through 1860s Dublin.

"Irresistible," said the Guardian.

"Plenty of people will happily gulp it down," said the BBC. "Good craic," said the Los Angeles Times.

The eight-part show debuted last week with 89% audience approval on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and lavish profiles of the real Guinness family in magazines such as Tatler and Vogue.

There is, however, a snag: Irish critics hate it. They hate the depiction of Ireland's history, hate the dialogue, hate the lighting, hate the costumes. Netflix billed it as the first show to have Irish subtitles and still Irish critics hate it. The Irish Times review lamented the show's "rudimentary understanding of Ireland's experiences of colonialism" and "stunning lack of appreciation for who the Anglo-Irish were and where they fit (or didn't) into Irish society". It said the heartthrob hard man played by the English actor James Norton sounded like "a steampunk Mr Tayto" - a reference to an Irish crisp brand mascot - and that the revolutionaries, the Fenians, "dress and speak like feral leprechauns".