Could you have an Irish accent, without ever living in Ireland?

[Ruskie]

I also think that some people pick up/lose accents more readily than others. I know of someone who went to America for 2 weeks and came back with an American accent (..we thought they just 'put it on', but who knows). My children go to school with lots of Chinese children with Aussie accents. Why don't they speak with a Chinese accent?
Still think it may vary depending on the person. Some immigrants always have a strong accent and some lose it.

[Subaru]

Thanks for the replies everyone

You've helped me with my problem.  I think I'll order the birth certificate, and see if the actual date of birth tallies with the one that I have.  So far the year of birth matches, and the quarter.  Looking at the neighbourhood where this person lived in Warwickshire, many of the adults were born in Ireland.  So if their children also spoke with the parents' accents, and they all attended the same school, I suppose it would be possible for them to retain the Irish accent for a long time.

I'll let you know when I receive the certificate.

Rosemary

[celia]

I also think that some people pick up/lose accents more readily than others. I know of someone who went to America for 2 weeks and came back with an American accent

Thats me Ruskie Although i didnt realize it, i pick up accents easey.I have come home with a slight scots/welsh/ or Irish accent it depends who i have spent time with and where i have been.Thats only in 2 weeks I spend 6 weeks in Oz every trip and slip into the accent till a week after i come home.I takes me ages to get back to asking for a coffee (plain) i keep asking for a white one ,dum looks

Celia

[kizmiaz]

My friends 8 year-old son has the habit of using the accent of whichever parent he is talking to.

His father is from the middle of the country and pronounces things like "grass" and "bath" with a short 'a' while his mum is a southerner who pronounces things properly and uses the long "grarss" and barth" form! 

Its quite funny to hear him change halfway through a sentence when he starts talking to the other parent!

I also pick up accents quite quickly apparently. I went away for a few months and when I came back, my mother asked why I was talking with a Manchester accent. I didn't realise I was!

Glen