# Patsy Mac Cann — The Demi-Gods character guide > Patsy Mac Cann in The Demi-Gods by James Stephens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Patsy, Mac Cann **First appearance:** 0002-book-i-patsy-mac-cann ## Who they are A tinker whose vanity bruises as easily as his fists fly, Patsy Mac Cann hauls a cart, a daughter, and a lifetime of grudges down the roads of Ireland. ## Relationships ### [Caeltia Mac Dea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/caeltia_mac_dea) _family_ Caeltia and Patsy are likely siblings or close relatives, sharing frequent interactions suggesting familial intimacy. ### [Mary Mac Cann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/mary_mac_cann) _family_ Mary and Patsy are sisters or close female relatives, with a warm and supportive dynamic. ### [Eileen Ni Cooley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/eileen_ni_cooley) _friendship_ Eileen and Patsy are close friends or companions, often interacting in social or domestic settings. ### [Rhadamanthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/rhadamanthus) _professional_ Patsy and Rhadamanthus have a formal or servant-master relationship, with Rhadamanthus likely in a position of authority. ### [Finaun Mac Dea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/finaun_mac_dea) _family_ Finaun and Patsy are likely relatives, with a familial connection that involves frequent contact. ### [Billy the Music](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/billy_the_music) _friendship_ Billy and Patsy are friends or fellow musicians, sharing a love for music and socializing. ### [Mary Mac Cann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/mary_mac_cann) _family_ Mary and Patsy are sisters or close female relatives, with a warm and supportive dynamic. ### [Rhadamanthus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/rhadamanthus) _professional_ Patsy and Rhadamanthus have a formal or servant-master relationship, with Rhadamanthus likely in a position of authority. ### [Caeltia Mac Dea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/caeltia_mac_dea) _family_ Caeltia and Patsy are likely siblings or close relatives, sharing frequent interactions suggesting familial intimacy. ### [Eileen Ni Cooley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/eileen_ni_cooley) _friendship_ Eileen and Patsy are close friends or companions, often interacting in social or domestic settings. ### [Finaun Mac Dea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/finaun_mac_dea) _family_ Finaun and Patsy are likely relatives, with a familial connection that involves frequent contact. ### [Caeltia Mac Dea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/caeltia_mac_dea) _family_ Caeltia and Patsy are likely siblings or close relatives, sharing frequent interactions suggesting familial intimacy. ## In the story ### [The Demi-Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/the-demi-gods) Encountered the angels on a desert hill and later disappears. ### [Book I: Patsy Mac Cann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/book-i-patsy-mac-cann) The father who initially fears the angels but is persuaded by his daughter to assist them. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/i) Father of Mary, testy and pragmatic, lights a fire and jokes about porter while scavenging food. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/ii) Sitting by the fire with his daughter when the angels arrive; he welcomes them after initial shock. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/iii) Falls asleep soon after the meeting, his snoring like a cracked trumpet. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/iv) Awakened by Mary; initially wants to flee with the cart but is persuaded to stay and buy food. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned as having gone down the road looking for food; returns across the fields with a basket under his arm. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/vii) Returns cautiously with food, shares a philosophical reflection on trouble and the poor, leads the meal and teaches the angels how to eat and smoke. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/viii) Explains how he acquired the food from a house where people were attacked, then helps the angels disguise themselves. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/ix) Portrayed as a skilled outlaw and survivor, living outside social and moral structures, with deep knowledge of nature and humanity. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/x) Mac Cann and his daughter travel with the angels, sharing their rejection of property and prejudice; he views settled householders as rooted and inhuman. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xi) Patsy permits the strangers to stay, driven by his patriarchal ambition to lead a band and his awe of Mary's refusal to abandon them. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xii) Sits between Caeltia and Art by the brazier; marches at the tail of the cart with Caeltia, talking often about strong drinks. ### [Book II: Eileen Ni Cooley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/book-ii-eileen-ni-cooley) Present during the encounter with Eileen Ni Cooley. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xiii) Confronts Eileen Ni Cooley and her companion, revealing his past infatuation and rejection. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xiv) Leads the group to a broken-down house for shelter, dismissively invites Eileen Ni Cooley to join them. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xv) Smokes a clay pipe, confronts Eileen about her rejection, and displays a domineering and jealous nature. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xvii) Awakens after Finaun's story, regrets falling asleep, and decides the group will stay in the broken house for the night. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xix) Grows savage and confrontational, verbally abusing Eileen and later collapsing into her arms, revealing his hidden affection. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xx) Leads the group in foraging and hunting, demonstrates resourcefulness and knowledge of the land. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxi) Interrupts Billy's story with angry retorts and demands for food, then insists on hearing the rest. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxii) Recognizes the description of the two thieves and reacts angrily. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxiii) Tells a vivid story of being stripped naked by two men and then stealing clothes to cover himself and Mary. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxiv) Listens to Billy's story, asks about guardian angels, and comments on the tale. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxvi) Encourages Art to tell his story and comments on Brien O'Brien. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxvii) Listens to Art's story, comments that it wasn't as good as the others, and decides the group should move on. ### [Book IV: Mary Mac Cann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/book-iv-mary-mac-cann) Mary's father, involved in the events with the angels. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxviii) Leads the group as captain; agrees to guide the angels back to their buried belongings; disappears during the night. ### [The Encounter with Eileen Ni Cooley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxx) Confronts Brien O'Brien and fights him; buries O'Brien after his accidental death. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxxi) Reveals he sold the buried treasure, pressures Mary to flee, but ultimately agrees to rebury the goods under her insistence. ### [Mac Cann's Nighttime Raid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxxiii) Mac Cann runs to the house, climbs the wall, and hides in the library to retrieve the sacks of gear. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxxiv) In high spirits after returning the wings, but becomes humiliated and frightened when Caeltia reveals they knew of the theft. He throws away the stolen money and exchanges pipes with Caeltia. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxxv) Embarrassed by Finaun's kiss, offers his pipe to Caeltia, confesses he kept a gold coin, and departs with Eileen. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters/patsy_mac_cann - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_demi_gods_se/characters