Characters (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Characters

1. Pádraic Súilleabháin

• A kind-hearted, simple man who values routine, friendship, and decency.
• His identity is deeply tied to his daily habits, his animals (especially Jenny the donkey), and his friendship with Colm.
• After being rejected by Colm, Pádraic begins to unravel emotionally, showing how fragile his sense of self is.
• He gradually transforms from "nice" and gentle to bitter and vengeful, symbolising how hurt and pride can corrode innocence.
  • "I'm nice! I'm always nice!"

2. Colm Doherty

• A brooding, introspective man driven by a fear of time and mortality.
• Wants to leave a lasting legacy through music and believes his friendship with Pádraic is holding him back.
• His decision to cut off fingers reflects a destructive commitment to solitude and artistic integrity.
• Possibly suffering from depression, Colm represents the emotional repression and existential despair of the island's men.
  • "I just don't have a place for dullness in my life anymore."

3. Siobhán Súilleabháin

• Pádraic's intelligent and emotionally mature sister.
• Acts as a voice of reason and compassion, often mediating between Pádraic and Colm.
• Feels trapped by the limited roles available to women on the island, and eventually chooses to leave for a better life.
• Her departure represents the loss of hope, empathy, and the potential for change.
  • "You're all feckin' boring! With your pints and your conversations!"

4. Dominic Kearney

• The troubled and awkward son of the abusive local policeman, Peadar.
• Despite his oddness, he is the most emotionally honest character, openly expressing pain, affection, and longing.
• Suffers neglect and abuse, and his tragic fate (implied suicide) reflects the island's failure to protect the vulnerable.
• His friendship with Pádraic highlights how kindness is often undervalued, and his fate underscores the film's bleak view of compassion ignored.
  • "Do you think God gives a damn about miniature donkeys, Pádraic?"