There are many Hollywood heavy-weights that are guilty of this crime. But let's not be too harsh the Irish accent, along with the Scottish and South African are some of the hardest accents to get right without over-doing it.
Let now have a look at some of the worst instances of the Irish accent being re-created:
Sean Connery 
Probably one of the worst offenders of balntantly destroying the Irish accent. Firstly, in Darby O'Gill and the Little People. http://www.youtube.com/watchv=wA45t2BLvbo&feature=relatedv=wA45t2BLvbo&feature=relatedre=related
Did Sean Connery learn from his mistakes? I'm afraid he did not! He repeated his failure of an Irish accent in The Untouchables, were he seemed to not bother to lose his Scottish accent! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g0RLyxP13o
Julia RobertsSean Connery is not alone in the charge of being a multi-offender of a bad Irish accent. Hollywood's darling, Julia Roberts, is also guilty.
Roberts plays an Irish servant to Dr. Jekyll in 1996 movie Mary Reilly. Unfortunately, unsuspecting victims of Mr.Hyde are not the only things being butchered in this movie; the Irish accent also takes quite a serious pounding. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_smkhn4plY&feature=relatedv=H_smkhn4plY&feature=related
She repeated her "oirish" accent in another 1996 film Michael Collins. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONwAcZcng8&feature=relatedated
Gerard ButlerAnother man who got the Irish accent very, very wrong in romantic comedy P.S. I Love You.
Despite just living across the pond (he is Scottish) he also got the accent wrong.
Thankfully, though, Butler had the good grace to apologise for his his Irish impression! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJJmoYp_2tw
Tom Cruise
In 1992, Tom Cruise played hot-headed Irishman Joseph Donnelly in Far and Away.
What ensued was one of the most notorious slaughters of the Irish accent in modern times.
Lucky for Tom, he had the Mission Impossible franchise to fall back on!
Tommy Lee Jones 
In perhaps one of his lesser known films, Tommy Lee Jones played an Irish terrorist in 1994 action movie Blown Away.
In perhaps one of his lesser known films, Tommy Lee Jones played an Irish terrorist in 1994 action movie Blown Away.
Although this film is not as well known as some of the other films on this list, it still desverves a spot because Tommy Lee Jones' Irish accent is just dire!
Kevin Spacey 
Kevin Spacey has many fans and because ofhis performances many people are willing to overlooksome of his flaws. Not me though! In 2000's Ordinary Decent Criminal, set in Dublin, Spacey's only crime is destroying our native accent!
Richard Gere
Richard Gere is no stranger to destroying accents. Not only did he destroy the British accent in 1995's First Knight, but he also destroyed the Irish accent in 1997's The Jackal.
In this film he played an ex-IRA member (suprise, suprise) trying to catch an assasin. Hear his horrible takeon the Irish accent here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKV6_hB6nV0hB6nV0
Michael J. Fox
In Back to the Future 3, Michael Fox shows that Irish accents were no better in 1885! In this scene we are introduced to Marty McFly's great-great Irish grandad. Sorry for the video quality, but I think it is still easy to hear the bad Irish accent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHcoYyxU6MU
Chris O'DonnellI'm afraid an Irish second-name doesn't save Chris O'Donnell on this one! In 1995 Chris O'Donnell played Jack Foley in Circle of Friends, set in 1950s Ireland.
His accent has to be heard to be believed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhsTEGHMepI
Justin Theroux
Another American messing up the Irish accent! Justin Theroux plays another Irish bad guy! He does no credit to the Irish accent, he seems to mix a Scottish accent and a stereotypical Irish accent, whatever it is, it isn't good! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4_f-Ht5-vY
There are many other people out there who have done terrible jobs. But these are shining, stinking examples. If you can think of any other bad Oirish accents, please leave a comment!
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