[1][2] The story follows John Paul Moorehouse on his destructive quest to uncover the truth about the killer of his father twelve years ago.

John Paul's desire for revenge is swayed as he falls for Winnie Power, the daughter of the man he suspects killed his father.

In a bid for realism, diversity and authenticity, many non-actor Irish Travellers were cast in acting parts.

[7] Variety called the film a "Gaelic Godfather" and praised "the genuinely engrossing action in the well-staged fight scenes.

"[9] The Independent criticized the film for being "less assured on the nuts and bolts of actual plotting" but praised Peter Coonan's acting performance as "an unregenerate yob who fires up the picture in the same way Robert De Niro's Johnny Boy did in Mean Streets 40 years ago.