Despite the title, this is not about an epic conflict, but about a rivalry between two schools that escalates into something more serious. It was originally made as La Guerre des Boutons in France, but is here transported to Ireland and as such Rachel Portman's charming and relatively unsentimental score reflects this. The Front Titles introduces the folksy main theme performed on what sounds like an Irish Whistle or some such. It reminds me of the kind of theme that would have been penned for those outdoor, live action Disney adventures they used to make, although Portman's melodic talent makes it more memorable than most of those.
The theme is used quite extensively to start with, but more sparingly as the score becomes darker and more dramatic. It is given a jaunty and fuller orchestral treatment in tracks such as Chasing the Fox and Battle of Murphy's Dunes. Of course the suggestion of the film being about war means there are a few chances to re-invent some of the war movie cliches, perhaps the most obvious being the pseudo threatening pre-battle music, first introduced in Murphy's Dunes Mobilization and the opening of the Battle of Murphy's Dunes. The "battles" themselves are not intense, as such, but are certainly coloured with darker and edgier hues that some of the earlier lightweight cues which feature the main theme. Fergus is Captured uses lower strings and percussion to build some degree of suspense and the following Naked Battle uses Braveheart style percussion and off kilter rhythms to great effect. Variations on this and some nice variations on the main theme feature in several of the battle sequences, perhaps the most effective during the lengthy Battle of Bunduff Bastle.
After perhaps some of the bleakest music in Helicopter Rescue, the main theme returns for the finale to neatly bookend the score and provide an upbeat finale. This definitely falls into the catergory of "a scoreI picked up for four pence and thought might be good and was much better than I ever expected." It is a prototypical Portman score with the choppy string motifs underpinning the main theme and plenty of subtley etched drama that is complimented by gentle hints of a more locally Irish soundscape in the more light hearted moments. Not one of her most famous scores by any means, but one of my personal favourites and a delightfully written and performed from start to finish.
Rating ~ 
Total Time ~ 39:09