“The Boys and Girl of County Claire” stars Colm Meany, one of Ireland’s finest actors. His credits include roles in Irish classics like “The Dead” and “The Snapper,” not to mention his work as Chief Miles O’Brien on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

Meany plays Jimmy, one of three dueling brothers in “County Clare.” Each has gone his separate way and competes each year in the international Cieli band competition. They will do anything to win, including cheating, lying, stealing and even swatting at children. Just when things couldn’t get any sillier, a young woman (Andrea Corr) in a band finds answers to some of her most sacred questions.

Meany came through Chicago to chat with Weekender about his latest film, some St. Patty’s Day frustrations and some unwanted persecution.

Weekender: Does all this St. Patrick’s Day nonsense bother you?

Colm Meany: I always found it a bit hysterical, St. Patrick’s Day here. Certainly as a kid it wasn’t like that in Ireland. It’s a pity it’s always about drinking, and we were always a bit embarrassed about dying the river green.

WE: It seems like the studio is really trying to maximize the holiday with the release of your film.

CM: I worry about that. The marketing geniuses always have this brainwave. I think it has a negative effect on the film – who goes to the movies on St. Patrick’s Day anyway? In a sense, it’s ghettoizing the movie, narrowing the audience by saying this is an Irish movie for an Irish audience.

WE: I think you’re right, and it’s frustrating because that’s so wrong – it really is a movie with characters that everyone can identify with. I like to describe the movie as a romantic comedy for people who hate romantic comedies.

CM: Right, it’s an Irish film and all that, but it’s much more universal. It is about real people. It’s about the kind of characters that the vast amount of the population can relate to. But how do we get that through to the marketing people, how do we get that film to be seen? That’s the real challenge.

WE: I’m sure a big part will be marketing Andrea Corr (lead singer of The Corrs).

CM: She was extraordinary. I was protective over her; it was a big role to play for her first part. It was a small budget, and sometimes we would get pissed off because you need this or that around the set and I would say to her, ‘You know, you don’t throw your weight around enough.’ And she’d look at me and say, ‘I don’t want to.’ I mean, you’re a f—ing pop star, ask for it!

WE: Speaking of pop star, you’re a little bit of a cult star with your “Star Trek” work. What do you think about the state of television today?

CM: Increasingly now some of the best writing is in television. When you look at “The Sopranos” and “Six Feet Under”, there’s a long list of terrific projects on cable.

WE: And the networks seem to be responding.

CM: I hope it continues and we get over the f—ing reality shit. It’s insane.

WE: So when you go back to Ireland, what’s the first thing you do?

CM: I just go for a pint. That’s becoming less fun because you can’t smoke.

WE: Virtually every celebrity I’ve interviewed smokes. You should really quit.

CM: You know, I probably would, but I hate being f—ing persecuted into it. Not you, but the world in general. New York is the worst. You can be fined for having an ashtray in your office, or for smoking under an awning in the street. The f—ing street! Bloomberg is a maniac.

And that is the intense world of Colm Meany, star of the very recommendable, hilarious film “The Boys and Girl of County Claire.” It opens in Chicago Friday.