Catherine Gunnell explores Netflix's new drama, House of Guinness, which follows the controversial Guinness family.
Stephen Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, has launched his eight-part series The House
of Guinness on Netflix. The historical fiction takes place after the passing of Sir Benjamin Lee
Guinness, the grandson of the brewer’s founder Arthur Guinness. The future of the
Guinness dynasty is bestowed upon two of his children, Arthur and Edward. The series
recounts how the brothers navigate the business in an era of political and cultural unrest in
late nineteenth century Ireland. The Guinness family were Protestant Unionists and were
disliked by a large portion of the Irish population. When this series was first announced,
some critics questioned should a series recounting British power in Ireland be documented
and commended. But does House of Guinness promote British colonialism?
The series begins in 1868 with the death of Benjamin Guinness. In the late 1800s, Ireland was
entirely under British rule. The Irish Parliament was abolished, and Ireland was represented
in the House of Commons in Westminster by MPs. The series occurs over a decade after the
Great Famine. Due to the Famine, people, primarily Irish Catholics, were still very poor and
faced economic challenges. These factors resulted in the Fenians, an Irish Nationalist
organisation, to gain more influence and revolt against British power. This era of political
change is highlighted in the House of Guinness as although the series follows the Guinness
family, Fenian characters like Ellen and Patrick Cochrane, and Byron Hedges, play major
roles in the series’ plot. Stephen Knight creates defiant and strategic characters in the Irish
Nationalists and emphasises the Fenians’ mounting influence.
Knight illustrates the Guinness family were largely despised in Ireland. This is evident during
the opening scene in episode one. In this scene, Benjamin Guinness’ funeral procession in
taking place on the streets of Dublin. During the procession, protestors shout insults and
throw items at the hearse. The protest shifts into a full-scale conflict as the Fenians riot, and
the Guinness supporters react. Throughout the series, Knight connotes how detested the
Guinness family were by Nationalists. He signifies this further by demonstrating the Fenians’
growing power as the Guinness brothers are forced to work alongside the Nationalists to
allow their brewery to expand.
Kneecap’s Get Your Brits Out serves as the backdrop as the riot ensues. The series’ score
is abundant with Irish artists, from Kneecap, Fontaines D.C, Gilla Band, and many more.
Knight celebrates Irish arts and culture through the soundtrack and the primarily Irish cast.
Irish actors include Anthony Boyle as Arthur Guinness, Fionn O’Shea as Benjamin Guinness,
Niamh McCormack as Ellen Cochrane, and many more. Knight also promotes the Irish
language which Irish subtitles being used for the first time on Netflix. Throughout the show,
characters also often speak as Gaeilge. Although Knight does not shy away from underlining
the Guinness’ Unionist values, he equally denotes Irish pride through the Nationalist
characters, Irish music and actors, and Gaeilge. The House of Guinness is a show where
being Irish is celebrated during a time of political upheaval.
Whether we like it not, the Guinness family played a pivotal role in Irish history, which is
conveyed in the series. The Guinness family introduced a comprehensive pension scheme
for its employees at St. James’ Gate Brewery in the 1880s. The Guinnesses were one the first
pioneers of early employee welfare in Ireland. They also introduced the Guinness Housing
Trust, which provided housing for the working class primarily in Dublin. Both schemes are
represented in the historical drama. Although the Guinnesses’ alliance was with the
Unionists and British power, it cannot be denied that the Guinness brothers provided great
support in terms of employment, housing, and welfare to Dublin.
House of Guinness serves as a platform for the promotion of Irish arts and culture, through
the inclusion of Irish music, cast and language. Stephen Knight recounts a pivotal point of
political and social unrest in Ireland from the perception of the Nationalists and Unionists.
House of Guinness does not promote British colonialism, it acknowledges it, as the series
signifies the importance of both the Guinness dynasty and the Fenians in Irish history.