The Great Ceili War (2003)
The Great Ceili War is a 2003 Irish comedy/drama film directed by John Irvin and starring Bernard Hill, Colm Meaney and Andrea Corr. The film was entitled The Boys and Girl From County Clare for the U.S. release and The Great Ceili War for the U.K. release.
Plot: Set in the 60s, Jimmy McMahon (Colm Meaney) is an Irishman living in Liverpool who directs a céilidh band of young men who go to a competition of traditional Celtic music in Ireland in County Clare. A native Irish band directed by John Joe McMahon (Bernard Hill) is also present to compete as well, with animosity between Jimmy and John as they are brothers. The two brothers could not be more different, as they have taken different paths. There are multiple surprises for them as the competition takes place, with a familial twist at the very end. |

The New York Times, 11 March 2005, Film in Review 'The Boys and Girl From County Clare'
Everyone is likable in John Irvin's appealing if obvious little fable about two estranged brothers and their ceili, or traditional Irish, bands.
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