Have you ever wondered what happened to the War of the Buttons cast? We’re here to reveal exactly where the guys who portrayed all your favourite characters are now.
Irish comedy-drama film War of the Buttons came out in 1994. The film, set in Cork, was directed by John Roberts from a screenplay by Colin Welland. This was an adaptation of French writer Louis Pergaud’s 1912 novel La Guerre des boutons.
The story follows two rival gangs – the working-class Ballys and the middle-class Carricks – who engage in a ‘war’ in which they cut off the buttons, shoelaces, and underwear of captured opponents.
War of the Buttons is beloved by many Irish film fans, but where are the cast now? Some still appear on our screens, others work behind the scenes, and others have faded into obscurity. But let’s check in on the War of the Buttons cast.
Liam Cunningham – the Master
Prior to War of the Buttons, Liam Cunningham had appeared in a handful of short films and made a cameo in Mike Newell’s Into the West.
Cunningham’s career has also seen him appear alongside Cillian Murphy in both Breakfast on Pluto (2005) and The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006), one of the best Irish movies of all time. He remains best known, however, for his portrayal of Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones (2011-2019).
Gregg Fitzgerald – Fergus
Appearing as Fergus, War of the Buttons was Gregg Fitzgerald’s acting debut. He appeared in five more movies in the 1990s, including A Soldier’s Song (1997), The Butcher Boy (1997), Le frère Irlandais (199), and One Man’s Hero (1999).
He also appeared in a few episodes of the British soap opera EastEnders. After a hiatus, he returned to the big screen in 2022 for Stephen Broekhuizen’s Bound to Work.
Colm Meaney – Geronimo’s Dad
The best known of the War of the Buttons cast, Colm Meaney needs no introduction. Already an established actor, he has appeared in the likes of Layer Cake (2004), The Damned United (2009), and Law Abiding Citizen (2012).
He is set to star in Chris Andrews’s directorial debut, Bring Them Down, alongside Barry Keoghan, Christopher Abbot, and Nora-Jane Noone.
Ger Ryan – Fergus’ Mam
Ger Ryan, who played Fergus’ Mam, is another of the most successful actors among the War of the Buttons cast. Her credits include roles in Moll Flanders (1996), The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017), and Rialto (2019).
She also appeared in The Commitments (1991) before War of the Buttons. Since then, she has had a successful television career in shows such as Raw (2010-13) and Little Dog (2018-19).
Gerard Kearney – Big Con
War of the Buttons marked Gerard Kearney’s first appearance on film. In the ensuing years, he worked on The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and Bound to Work (2022), as well as a selection of TV shows and films.
Brendan McNamara – Tim
Brendan McNamara made his film debut in War of the Buttons. Since then, he has appeared in Angela’s Ashes (1999), Conspiracy of Silence (2003), and The Agent (2008), amongst other productions.
McNamara is best known, however, for his work behind the scenes. For example, he was part of the casting department for hits such as The Bourne Supremacy (2004).
Dervla Kirwan – Adult Marie
Appearing in voice only as the film’s narrator, Dervla Kirwan is another of the more successful members of the War of the Buttons cast. Although her list of film credits is relatively short, she has been a firm fixture on TV screens at home and abroad for years.
She appeared in Ballykissangel (1996-98) as Assumpta Fitzgerald, a role she reprised in cameo appearances in The Vicar of Dibley (1997) and the iconic Irish TV show Father Ted (1996). She earned a British National Television Award for this role.
Kirwan has also been recognised with awards for her performances in TV shows, such as The Silence (2010) and Smother (2021-present). She was also recognised for roles in feature films like Ondine (2009) and Entity (2012) and the 2016 short Red.
One-hit wonders – those who fell out of acting
There are many among the War of the Buttons cast for whom the film marked their only acting credit. Darragh Naughton played Boffin, Kevin O’Malley played Fishy, Thomas Kavanagh played Riley, and Eveanna Ryan played Marie.
Though none of the above pursued their acting career further, they will always be fondly remembered by fans of War of the Buttons.
