If you thought only your family had drama in Thanksgiving, wait until you meet the Guinnesses. Netflix’s ‘House of Guinness‘ will make you forget about who gets the bigger Turkey leg because here’s something big at play. Pint empires! The series takes us to the world of Ireland’s most famous brewing dynasty with complete ‘Downton Abbey‘ vibes. The corsets, the candlelights, and plenty of raised glasses! For the most part, it seems like a part of ‘Succession,’ too; the lavish mansions and fiery sibling rivalries.
But what if we tell you that the juiciest parts of ‘House of Guinness‘ aren’t fictional. They are based on true stories straight from the archives of the famous Guinness family. Read on to find out what really happened behind the gilded gates.
‘House Of Guinness’: How It All Really Started
The death of Sir Benjamin Guinness in 1868 is at the centre of ‘House of Guinness‘, and also where all the drama begins. As the grandson of Arthur Guinness, Benjamin made the business global. So, naturally, when he died, he left behind a lot for his sons to fight over.
Not only that, but Benjamin also split the brewery between two of his children, Arthur and Edward. And that soon spiraled out to become the much-awaited sibling rivalry. While Arthur believed the brewery was his by birthright, Edward wasn’t about to let his brother run the show solo.
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Apart from the who-get-what in the will, the Guinness storyline played out against 19th-century Ireland, which gives us a glimpse into political tensions and the social conditions of Ireland. Being part of the protestant elite in an Irish community, the Guinnesses had all the power, but it also made them easy targets.
The revolutionary groups in Ireland, such as the Fenians, opposed British rule and occasionally attacked symbols of wealth, including the Guinness family. And the show captures it perfectly. You will see it all: the threats, the protests, the uneasy relationships between industries, and more.
On the business front as well, the Guinness company itself wasn’t just about profit. Besides paying better wages, pensions, and social welfare, the family also engaged in politics. In the show, we see Arthur run for the office and see the election rigging, bribery, and even power plays at times. Even though much of it is based on real history, the show doesn’t shy away from filling the cabs and now, but even there, it has done a commendable job.
A Fictional Addition
Steven Knight, the creator of ‘Peaky Blinders,’ and Ivana Lowell, a Guinness descendant, invented a fictional character just to spice up the show. And, it’s none other than Sean Rafferty. Played by James Norton, Rafferty is a hunky brewery foreman with a ruthless streak. He’s the family’s fixer, the man who makes problems disappear, but he’s also a servant who never forgets his place.
Even though his loyalty is rewarded, he’s always reminded that he’ll never truly be one of them. This character is not from the Guinness archives; it will probably give us a fair-eye view of the whole empire from a third perspective.
The Seed Of The ‘House Of Guinness’
The seed for ‘House of Guinness‘ came from Ivana Lowell, a Guinness cousin who grew up surrounded by stories of her ancestors. One night, while watching ‘Downton Abbey‘ at a family gathering in Ireland, she realised that her own family’s history was “a lot juicier and more interesting than this, plus it was all true.”
Back home in New York, Lowell wrote a 20-pager on the Guinness dynasty, from Arthur’s 18th-century lease at St. James’s Gate to the turbulent years that followed Benjamin’s death. That idea eventually reached Steven Knight, who was instantly hooked. Known for turning his parents’ stories of gang life in Birmingham into ‘Peaky Blinders,’ Knight saw the Guinness family as the perfect subject for his next big series.
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Today, we are all aware of the famous Guinness beers in the world, with over 10 million glasses consumed every single day. But who knew, behind that iconic bottle, so much history was hidden? Thanks to Netflix, we finally get to see it all play out on screen.
