Actors Amanda Burton, Jimmy Nesbitt and Eva Birthistle at a Derry 'Sons and Daughters' concert in 2013. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE CO Derry accent has been voted Ireland's "sexiest" in an online poll.

Irish news and entertainment site lovin.ie asked its Twitter followers to vote for the county with the most attractive accent.

And Derry, the birthplace of stars including singer Nadine Coyle, actresses Roma Downey and Amanda Burton, and Nobel laureate John Hume, came out on top.

Northern counties featured strongly with Co Down ranked number five, behind Co Limerick at number four and Co Donegal at number three.

Co Tyrone, home to GAA manager Mickey Harte and country singer Philomena Begley, was number eight on the list.

However, the ad hoc poll did not take into account differences in accents within each of the 32 counties.

The light-hearted list described Co Antrim natives, including everyone from Portrush to west Belfast, as: "Everyone is just Gerry Adams".

Ireland's least-attractive accent was Co Laois at number 32, closely followed by counties Louth and Longford.

Ireland's top five "sexiest" accents:

1. Derry

2. Kildare

3. Donegal

4. Limerick

5. Down

To view the full list visit www.lovin.ie