Origin of Wexford town accent

The peculiar wexford town accent (saying that because i speak with one!) i think arises from the fact that wexford was a busy shipping port for the best part of 1000 years up to the 20th Century. Once you go outside the town (even a few miles in some cases) you will spot the difference in accents immediately. The accent seems to be an amalgam of hiberno english and accents from other ports and shipping areas that would have had most contact with wexford. To me there is a bit of a cornish/westcountry, welsh,dublin and belfast accents in it. Could also have some french influences in the accent as there would have been a lot of trade from normandy and of course the norman influence from the 12th century. The accent certainly comes from being a trading port with lines of communication coming across the sea rather than from other parts of ireland. Most of the town's population over the years would have been involved in the shipping trade or ancillary activities and i imagine it would have been a tight knit community, without a huge dilution of the accent.

I've heard some people say there was soldiers from the north (belfast) also stationed in the town barracks there in cromwell times which could also have had an influence but don't know how true this is. People from other parts of the country have certainly mistook the accent for a northern one.

I personally think there is also a flemish influence coming from the times when "Yola" was spoke here but this is not really supported by any historians. Still I think its not beyond the bounds of reason that some Flemish influence had arrived here. Anyone hearing the old wexford language of Yola would hear similarities with the flemish language and obviously mixed with Ye Olde English...

Of course Forth and Bargy was the Kingdom which stretched from wexford town down through piercestown, killinick, tagoat and onwards towards rosslare and ending up in Cornwall!!

I think Blueskys really has hit the nail on the head though when he attributes our charming brogue to a mix from Native Irish, English and seafaring gentlemen and women who have landed here from further shores.

I did also hear the theory that Wexford had a strong relationship with our brothers up north and alot of safehouses and rebellion may be the link to our nordy twang!

I've often been mistaken as being from the north when elsewhere in Ireland and also in England.

D'ya want salt n vinegar on that huuun?

Queerin' deadly boy