Darby O’Gill and the Good People · Character
Tom Mulligan
A neighbor whose household becomes the testing ground for fairy fortune — the kind of luck that arrives unasked and demands a price.
supporting
Also known as Mulligan
First appearance: The Luck of the Mulligans
As a supporting figure in Darby O’Gill and the Good People, Tom Mulligan is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
One-legged ballad-maker who receives the magical noggin from the King and becomes the jovial host of a gathering of artists.
Mulligan belongs to the same parish network of farmers, priests, and storytellers through which news of the Good People travels, and his family's fortunes become a local case study in what fairy favor actually costs. His story sits alongside Cormac's banshee terror and Darby's stolen cattle as evidence that the unseen world is not remote but woven into rent, marriage, and daily bread. He matters because his luck shows what Darby is really bargaining for when he deals with King Brian.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
20 connectionsA slice of how Tom Mulligan sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Friendship
- Other
Character groups
- Core Mulligan Family
- Extended Village Ensemble
+15 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Closing
Darby’s internal turmoil reaches its emotional and psychological peak here as he is consumed by dread over the…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- King Brian Connors
friendship · positive
King Brian and Tom share a friendly camaraderie, with Tom often serving as a loyal… How this plays out →
- King Brian Connors
friendship · positive
King Brian and Tom share a friendly camaraderie, with Tom often serving as a loyal… How this plays out →
- King Brian Connors
friendship · positive
King Brian and Tom share a friendly camaraderie, with Tom often serving as a loyal… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Tom Mulligan in The Luck of the MulligansIn the story
Tom Mulligan appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Tom Mulligan unlock in the free preview.
See Tom Mulligan in The Luck of the Mulligans