KangTheMad

A call at three in the morning can mean one of three things. It can mean that someone hit the wrong number while dialing and got you. I can mean someone has incredible news that they must share with you. And it can also mean a death in the family. For me, it was was the death of an uncle I had never heard of.

When the phone rang I seriously considered sleeping through it. Whatever it was could probably wait, but something made me roll over so I was facing my night table. That simple movement was enough to force me to pick up the phone. "Hello? Who is this?" I answered in a sleepy voice.

"My name's Patrick Tooly, is this Jack Starr?" The voice was faint and hard to make out.

"Yes. Where are you calling from? I can hardly hear you."

"A small town south of Dublin, why?"

"I don't know what time it is there, but its three in the morning here. This better be good." I was partially awake now and very curious to know why I was being called from Ireland.

Patrick chuckled softly, "Weel now, I didn't mean to be callin you in the wee hours of the marnin, my apologies. I'm afraid I bring you a bit o bad news. Your uncle passed away sometime last night."

"My uncle? I don't have an uncle. Both my parent were single children."

"Your mother was Helen Gertrude Haywerth?"

"Haywerth was her last name, yes."

"Well then, she had a brother here in Ireland and like I said he passed away sometime last night. His will indicates that his closest living relative was to inherit his house and money. However, we would like for you to come here to fill out some forms and all. When is the best time for you to fly here? I'll have someone pick you up at Dublin International."

"I could leave tomorrow I guess, around noon."

"Great, thats just grand!"

He gave me a number to call once I had my arrival time.


And thats it for now. Sam, please tell me if I have the accent down. And I will probably be reling on you like a cripple relies on a crutch since the book takes place in Ireland. Whats the currency used there?

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SparkyLT

Just to make it a little tighter: "...but something made me roll over to face my night table." Also, I would say bedside table, but I suppose that's just me. Then again so is the rest of this comment; it's fine the way you have it, I'm just making a suggestion.

Why not property and money?


I may not be Irish, but the accent seems somewhat overdone. But it does make it glaringly obvious that this guy is Irish. My 2 cent.

KangTheMad

I'm afraid Sam will beat me up when he reads this then.

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Sam Winchester

Have you the accent down? No. Not only no, but hell no. Sorry, mate, but all that stuff you hear on the TV - it ain't Irish accents. Let me just give you an example: There are thirty-two counties in Ireland. There are at least ten accents in every one of those counties. That makes over three-hundred accents in Ireland (probably more) and only about one of them sound remotely like your MC - the Kerry one. A Dublin accent - colloquially referred to as "Dublinese" - is completely different and consists of words that no other county in Ireland uses. You can find some of these words here:

YouTube - Learn to speak Dublinese

Remember, Kang - that stuff you see in the movies about Irish accents? It's all bollocks.

Here's a video of a man talking in Dublinese:

YouTube - Crazy fucks from dublin

Compared with a Northern Irish accent:

YouTube - How to speak Norn Iron

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Don't unlock doors you're not prepared to go through.

KangTheMad

F*ck. Thanks anyway though.

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Sam Winchester

Problem is, Kang, no one on your side of the pond can do a proper Irish accent. Only people from this side. The Scots can pull it off. The English - not so much, but still better than what Americans think passes for an Irish accent. We don't talk like Leprechauns over here, contrary to popular overseas opinion.

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Don't unlock doors you're not prepared to go through.

Olly Buckle

On the other hand, Sam if he is writing for people brought up on the Hollywood version maybe he is better sticking to what they know, give them something authentic and they won't know what he's talking about.

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Google Olly Buckle and click on my Associated content page, or find me on youtube.

I had a tremendous advantage in life, at the age of eighteen I caught polio and for eighteen months was totally paralysed except for my eyes. Milton Erickson

Sam Winchester

Maybe, Olly, but it's called a mis-representation. That's my beef. What they portray as Irish accents is so far off base that it's laughable.

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Don't unlock doors you're not prepared to go through.

SparkyLT

Join the club. I hate it when they exaggerate Southern accents, but they probably aren't going to stop.

KangTheMad

I plan on publishing this book, so I wouldnt want all of Ireland putting a price on my head. I will acknowledge you in the acknowledgments.

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