So you’re a fan of Niall Horan’s accent - here’s a guide to speaking with an Irish brogue

C'mere, you'll be talking like Bono in no time, grand altogether

Okay so you're not going to sound like One Direction’s Irish member Niall Horan by the end of this article, you might just get closer than Tom Cruise in "Far and Away" or God forbid, Sean Connery in the "Untouchables."

This brilliant guide to top tips for an Irish accent will have you sounding more like "The Commitments" than "Darby O'Gill" and that has to be a good thing. 

1. Learn the Irish vocabulary

This is by far and away the most important thing to learn when pulling off a good Irish impression. Vocab is paramount and I don't mean begorrah and diddly-eye. Irish people have a whole different dictionary. 

One of the most obvious is the Irish people's use of the word “grand." The question "How are you?" is generally answered with "Grand, thanks," which doesn't mean $1,000 or a big piano, it does in fact mean "fine."

Here's some other examples:

Em - This is generally used by the Irish instead of "um" or "uh" while pausing to think. This is definitely one of the most commonly used noises. Remember this one. 

Cheers - Although this is a drinking toast it is also a aloha-like multi-purpose word which can mean hello, goodbye and thank you. 

Lad - this means any male and when pluralized means any group of females or males. 

C'mere - literally this means "come here" but it also means "listen" and just a friendly "hey." It can be used to get someone's attention or just start a sentence. 

Right - This is another multi-purpose word. Used like 'C'mere'. For example "Right, yours was a pint?", "Right, I'm off home."

Bollocks - this literally means testicles but has become a word with which to express anger. For example, if you missed your train you might exclaim "Bollocks!" It can also mean rubbish. For example, "That lad is talking utter bollocks."

Bastard - Although this literally means a child born out of wedlock it can also be used to express anger and as an exclamation. For example, "where's my bastard coat?"

Eejit - Idiot, but harsher.

Knacker - This can be used to describe an undesirable person or being exhausted. For example, "Jaysus look at that knacker," or "I'm bleeding knackered, I need a kip."

Food 101:

Chips = French fries

Crisps = chips 

Biscuits = cookies

2. The Irish sound

It's impossible to say what an Irish person sounds like as there are 32 different accents and dialects to boot in this small  country. Although there's only 4.5 million people in the Emerald Isle the variety of accents is baffling. The most obvious difference is that between Northern Irish people (think Gerry Adams) and southern (think Bono). 

Soft vowels

The Irish generally make fun of how the Americans elongate their vowels in the same manner that Americans usually make fun of Texans. 

Here some phrases to show you the difference: 

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