Áine Ní Bhreasail (An t-Oibrí Sóisialta)

Role in the Story:

Áine Ní Bhreasail is the social worker who is supposed to help Máire during her pregnancy. She lacks empathy and is more focused on following rules than understanding Máire's situation.

Relationships with Other Characters:

• Máire Ní Chathasaigh: As the social worker assigned to Máire's case, Áine is supposed to support her, but she offers little real help. Her focus is on getting Máire to give up her child, which shows her inability to understand Máire's emotional needs.
• Bean Uí Chathasaigh: Áine sides with Bean Uí Chathasaigh's view that Máire should give up her child to avoid scandal.

Key Actions in the Play:

1. Pressures Máire to Give Up Her Baby: Áine advises Máire that her only option is to give up her baby, showing no understanding of Máire's desire to keep her child.

2. Doesn't Provide Real Support: Instead of helping Máire find a way to raise her child or access support services, Áine focuses solely on convincing her to go to a home for unmarried mothers and give up the baby. She offers no emotional or practical support.

Symbolism/Importance:

Áine Ní Bhreasail represents the cold, institutional side of Irish society in the 1960s, where unmarried mothers were often treated as problems to be hidden away rather than people in need of care. She symbolises how the system failed women like Máire by focusing more on rules and reputations than on offering genuine help.

Aidiachtaí

Míghoilliúnach	Insensitive
Coimeádach	Conservative
Mícharthanach	Uncharitable
Míchríostúil	Unchristian
Cúngaigeanta	Narrow minded
Ceartaiseach	Self-righteous

Ról

• Is í Áine Ní Bhreasail an t-oibrí sóisialta.

  • Áine Ní Bhreasail is the social worker.

• Is í Áine an duine a fhaigheann áit do Mháire sa teach tearmainn.

  • Áine is the person who gets a place for Máire in the 'teach tearmainn'.

• Bean coimeádach is ea í.

  • She is a conservative woman.

• Chuir sí brú ar Mháire an leanbh a chur ar altramas. Níor phléigh sí an cheist.

  • She put pressure on Máire to put the child in foster care. She did not discuss the issue.

• Bhí sí den tuairim go raibh Máire stuacach agus ceanndána.

  • She was of the opinion that Máire was stubborn and headstrong.

• D'éirigh sí feargach léi agus dúirt sí nach mbeadh aon fonn ar Bhean Uí Chinsealaigh leanbh tabhartha a ligint isteach sa teach.

  • She became angry with her and said that Bhean Uí Chinsealaigh would have no desire to let the child into the house.

• Is léir nach raibh mórán measa aici ar Mháire mar go ndeir sí go rachaidh a hiníon ar bhothar na haimhleasa má fhanann sí le Máire; Má choinníonn tú féin í, cad a bheidh i ndán di, ach i a dhul ar bhealach a haimhleasa…"

  • It is clear that she did not have much respect for Máire as she said that her daughter will go down the way of trouble if she stays with Máire; "If you yourself keep her, what will become of her, but going the way of misfortune..."

Quote:

"Má choinníonn tú féin í, cad a bheidh i ndán di, ach i a dhul ar bhealach a haimhleasa…"

"If you yourself keep her, what will become of her, but going the way of misfortune..."