Ah, at last it is March and the heralding of the coming spring. Here in California, the sun is out, there’s a lovely breeze, and in just a few short weeks I will be at the crippling mercy of my seasonal allergies. But for now, it is a joyous occasion to celebrate spring and of course, the joys and celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day.
What originated as a Catholic feast day honoring St. Patrick, a 5th century bishop and missionary in Ireland, has since become a globally recognized celebration of Irish heritage and culture. And in truth, pretty much all of March is a time of celebration and embracing of Irish hospitality and camaraderie. So in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day and with a dash of Irish charm, it only felt right to take a moment to tip our proverbial caps to just a few top notch Irish video game characters. Unfortunately the Irish remain sorely underrepresented in games, but there remain a memorable few that, hopefully, with enough influence, will pave the way for even more Irish characters in the future. So have a seat, grab a Guinness, let’s toast to some absolute legends we could ever forget!
Aiden Pierce (Watch Dogs)
Originally from Belfast, Aiden represents Northern Ireland for this list. Without spoiling too much of the plot of the game, Aiden, or “The Vigilante” as he is otherwise known, is the central protagonist of the first Watch Dogs game, and a major character throughout the franchise. As a gray hat hacker, he is committed to defying the corrupt and the unjust, and dedicates himself to dismantling these forces on his own terms.
Though he spent much of his youth and young adulthood involved in the criminal underworld, the lifestyle eventually caught up to him and led to a family tragedy that deeply affected him. This event caused him to reflect on his choices, and he ultimately began to use his skills to begin dismantling the empires he had once been a part of.
Though some elements of Aiden’s story fall into stereotypical Irish tropes (such as having a distant and abusive father that he grows to bear striking similarities to), he remains an intriguing character due to his complex moral code and his commitment to righting the wrongs he has committed. And the life of a committed hacker in the underbelly of Chicago remains as compelling as ever.
William Edwards (Nioh)
Inspired by an English sailor who became a samurai under the famous shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, William is an Irish explorer and warrior who comes to a fictionalized Japan rapt with evil spirits and other entities, in search of a malicious sorcerer. William allies himself with the burgeoning Tokugawa shogunate in its efforts to unify Japan, which can’t achieve its goal without first eliminating the grave mystical threats plaguing the country and its people. William must fight yōkai, or spirits, roaming across the landscape, as well as monsters and wartime adversaries to cleanse the landscape and help bring about Japan’s unification.
As a soulslike game, Nioh is not the type of game I would play myself, solely because I am a silly goose who does not do well with extremely difficult combat encounters. But the story is rich, and the choice to portray William as Irish despite being inspired by a real life person who was English, gives some needed visibility to a people who are often characterized as being of the “same stock.” As is typical with soulslike games, the story is told predominantly through environmental discoveries made in the world. That being said, those discoveries are rich with lore and provide William with the needed context to continue the fight, both for his own personal means and for the peace and stability of feudal Japan.
Sean MacGuire (Red Dead Redemption 2)
Rockstar hasn’t had the cleanest track record with its depiction of Irish people (the character Irish in the first Read Dead Redemption comes to mind), and Sean is hardly a step in the right direction. A smooth talking con man with seemingly no care for consequences, Sean takes on the role of comedic relief for the game’s rough and tumble gunslinger gang, headed by the charismatic outlaw Dutch Van der Linde. Despite his shortcomings, it’s hard not to like Sean. He’s funny, he’s charming, he cares about his fellow members in the gang, and he’s one of the few characters with the guts to poke Arthur Morgan for fun.
When idling around the camp in game, you’ll often find Sean seated at the campfire, regaling the rest of the crew with stories about his youth, his early days of crime, or his time in Ireland (specifically, Donegal). Sean’s charisma and light hearted personality is a true boon to the camp, and solidifies him as one of the most memorable parts of the gang. We share a toast to you, sir!
Anne Bonny (Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag)
Appearing in what is arguably the best Assassin’s Creed game ever, Anne Bonny is a classic Irishwoman with all the charisma, flair, and female empowerment mojo you could ever want. Met early in the game as a barmaid in Nassau, Anne comes to assist protagonist Edward Kenway in his quest to secure mystical artifacts being held by the Templars. And ultimately, Anne has her own story of struggle, heartbreak, and redemption, though it largely occurs offscreen, unfortunately. However she comes to aid Edward right when both of them are at their lowest point, and must rely on each other to rally themselves to beat back the Templars in the Caribbean.
From barmaid to pirate to quartermaster of one of the most fearsome pirate ships in the Caribbean, Anne Bonny rises above the Irish stereotypes and sets her own path as a leader of men. Though she never becomes an Assassin herself, her heroism laid the foundation for the Order’s growth and its ability to withstand the later trials which would almost wipe it out. If she ever got a standalone game, I would be first in line for it. She is the ultimate unsung badass.
Atlas (Bioshock)
Now, would you kindly bring your attention to this breakdown of perhaps the most mad Irishman you could hope to find in a video game? In fact, the most mad Irishman who doesn’t actually exist?
Bioshock is perhaps one of the most well known horror games in modern gaming, with the game’s twist ending one of the most memorable (one that, to this day, still keeps me up at night at how I never caught onto it in that first playthrough). Atlas is an Irish revolutionary that leads the rebellion against business mogul Andrew Ryan, the leader of the underwater city of Rapture. As you play the game, Atlas guides you via radio communication as you traverse Rapture and seek a way out. Though ultimately, Atlas’ “help” is not entirely what it seems, and he ultimately seeks to serve his own ends in a way that leads to one hell of a revelation by game’s end.
Though Atlas doesn’t truly “exist,” being merely an idea or symbol thought up by Andrew Ryan’s criminal rival Frank Fontaine, Atlas serves as an inspiration to the rebel cause amidst Rapture’s Civil War. Making him Irish is actually clever; he has a “working class” Dublin accent to make him relatable and friendly, and the Irish themselves are renowned revolutionaries, having secured their independence from the United Kingdom in the 1920s. Atlas plays into the role of savior, guide, and inspiration for the resistance, and he does it well.
But, more than anything, that Irish lilt that resonates through “Would you kindly” at the game’s every turn, will remain burned into your brain till the end of time.
