She told Garry Shelley from TV Week that "I never dreamed I would ever work in a soap and I'm not being snobbish about it [...] but now I'm thrilled; I love it.

[3] McGranger was originally contracted for a 13-week guest stint, but when she proved popular with viewers, she was brought back six months later.

[6] Speaking of her duration whilst being interviewed by David Knox of TV Tonight, McGranger stated: "Being very pragmatic, I love my job.

[11] Irene endures a painkiller addiction, her relationship with Paris ends and she tries to cope with Tasha Andrews' (Isabel Lucas) wayward behaviour.

Irene's health deteriorates when she tries to help fellow alcoholic Kit Hunter (Amy Mizzi) remain sober.

McGranger said that "being a recovering alcoholic, Irene has done a lot of damage to her body over the years, and she sees this as a warning of worse things to come.

"[11] Irene arrives in Summer Bay as the alcoholic mother of three children, Nathan (David Dixon), Damian (Matt Doran) and "Fin" Finlay (Tina Thomsen),[4] being fostered by Pippa Ross.

Having hit rock bottom after an unhappy marriage, she had started drinking heavily as a coping mechanism, and it was soon revealed that she had used violence towards Damian and Nathan on occasions while under the influence.

After an 18-month absence, Irene returns to the Bay after hearing in the news that Fin had nearly drowned during a deep sea dive.

Although initially sceptical, her children soon warmed to her when they realised that she really had changed for the better, and, following the arrival of Damian and Fin's brother Nathan in the Bay when Irene was considering leaving, Nathan explained that their mother was now recovered from alcoholism and had left their father; as a result, Damian and Fin decided that they wanted her to stay at Summer Bay permanently.

Despite the previous animosity between the two, Irene also soon becomes firm friends with Pippa, displaying a kinder side to her personality when she helps Pippa come to terms with the loss of her son Dale who died of cot death, and the death of her husband Michael, who drowned in a flash flood.

Morag managed to convince Irene to meet with Tasha's father, who then agreed to take the cameras away.

But the leader, Mumma Rose (Linden Wilkinson), proved to be dangerous and Irene watched from afar as Tasha's life spiraled out of control.

Irene is delivering food for Bianca Scott (Lisa Gormley) and Heath Braxton (Dan Ewing) before the explosion.

Chris and his brother Spencer (Andrew Morley) and Sasha Bezmel (Demi Harman) moved into the Beach House to live with Irene.

Irene supports VJ Patterson (Matthew Little) and Zac MacGuire (Charlie Clausen) while Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) is in a coma following a bus accident.

On the night of the hospital fundraiser party, Irene meets a mysterious man at her front door named Mick Jennings (Kristian Schmid), who claims to be Chris' uncle.

After Dana is found, Irene is arrested by Rose Delaney (Kirsty Marillier) and charged with harboring a fugitive.

[13] Irene and Leah's friendship won the 2015 TV Week and Soap Extra #OMGAward for Best BFFs.

[15] She made the viewer-voted shortlist,[16] but lost out to Lorna Laidlaw, who portrays Mrs Tembe in Doctors.

[18] Describing Phillips' incarnation of Irene, TV Week's Shelley stated "she has all the charm of a blowtorch and a temperament to match.

He added that Phillips stole "the mantle of the nastiest bitch on television in Australia" from Cornelia Frances who played fellow character Morag Bellingham.

[2] The Sydney Morning Herald have referred to Irene as one of the serial's three "legacy characters", along with Alf and Colleen.

[19] Holy Soap recall Irene's most memorable moment as: "Being attacked by the mad ex-wife of her former lover Ken.

"[20] In Catherine Deveny's book "It's not my fault they print them" described Irene as "the rough diamond with a heart of gold that speaks fluent Aussie cliché.

Most recently, the arrival of her troubled son Mick (Kristian Schmid) reopened a dark chapter and put her at odds with bestie and business partner Leah.

"[1] In November 2021, three critics for The West Australian placed Irene at number two in their feature on the "Top 50 heroes we love and villains we hate" from Home and Away.

[22] They praised the character, stating: "There was definitely a touch of Annie's Miss Hannigan about Irene Roberts when she first landed in the Bay as a washed-up alcoholic.

However, once she sobered up, this weather-beaten Aussie battler proved she had a heart of gold as she set about welcoming a steady stream of stray, troubled children into her home for a shoulder to cry on, a hot cuppa and a place to stay.