The former owners of my house added on a family room. One wall is the former exterior brick wall, which they painted white. I want to make it look like a natural red brick wall, as I am trying for an Irish pub theme. Any suggestions for how to paint, or faux paint the wall?

Note: I have no idea what kind of paint they used. When our daughter painted her bedroom with a latex, great sheets peeled off. The rest of the house walls feel very dry and mar easily, so I'm a bit afraid of what they did to the brick wall.