The claim has often been made that the best English is spoken in Dublin. A friend of mine says the worst, too. But it was left to no less a person than Lenin's wife - who died recently - to say a word for the Irish accent from the stand-point of the foreigner.
In her book of memories she speaks of accompanying Lenin to London in their days of exile and wanderings: "We thought we knew the English language, having even translated a whole book (the Webbs) from English into Russian when we were in Siberia. I learned English in prison from a self-instructor, but had never heard a single live English word spoken."
When they arrived in London they found they could not understand a single word that was spoken, and nobody could understand them.
Characteristically, they learned spoken English by going to meetings, listening and watching the mouth of the orator. "We went fairly often to Hyde Park," remarks Madame Lenin, "and heard speakers harangue the crowds on diverse theme . . . We were particularly keen on listening to one speaker of the kind. He spoke with an Irish accent, which was easier for us to understand.
It would be interesting to know if this response to the Irish accent was a peculiarity of the Lenins or if other foreigners find it helpful.
The Irish Times, March 24th, 1939.