The Informer · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Informer by Liam O’Flaherty.
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Gypo Nolan
major
Also known as Gypo, Nolan
A hulking ex-policeman turned revolutionary, Gypo trades his comrade's life for twenty pounds and then must walk the streets with that betrayal burning in his pocket.
Commandant Dan Gallagher
major
Also known as Commandant Gallagher, Gallagher, Daniel, Danny Gallagher, Dan, the great Gallagher, Comrade Dan Gallagher, Comrade Gallagher, VII Gallagher
The hunted commandant of a revolutionary cell, Gallagher runs interrogations by lamplight and decides, with ashen calm, who among his own men must be wiped out.
Katie Fox
supporting
Also known as Kitty
Gypo's lover, a dope-maddened woman of the tenements, she sells his hiding place to the men hunting him and then cannot undo what she has done.
Mary McPhillip
supporting
Also known as Mary
Frankie McPhillip's mother, awake past midnight in a cellar inquiry room, she begs Gallagher not to murder the informer and is answered with a stuffed mouth.
Frankie McPhillip
supporting
Also known as Francis Joseph McPhillip, McPhillip, Frank McPhillip, Francis, Frank
The young Intelligence officer whose job Mulholland covets and whose death, delivered by Gypo's whisper, sets every gun in the city looking for a traitor.
Bartly Mulholland
supporting
Also known as Mulholland, rat Mulholland
A workman's face worn like a conspirator's mask, Mulholland whispers Gypo's name through dark streets and races to Gallagher with the news that the informer is found.
Dart Flynn
supporting
Also known as Flynn
Flynn belongs to the tight circle of gunmen and sentries who hold the organization's secret rooms, and he is the one Gallagher trusts to fire first and answer questions later. Even with his jaw shattered and bound in a red silk handkerchief, he refuses to show agony, waving off his failure to hit the escaping Gypo with the flat calm of a man who has already accepted worse. His suspicion of Gypo and his willingness to endure mutilation for the Cause sharpen the paranoia that runs through the group's early hunt.
The Rat Mulligan
minor
Also known as Mulligan, Rat
A seedy informer and hanger-on in the Dublin underworld.
Mrs. McPhillip
minor
Also known as McPhillip
Frankie's mother, a grieving widow who confronts Gypo.
Maggie
minor
Also known as Connemara Maggie
A loud, drunken woman from Connemara who frequents the pubs.
Peter Mulligan
minor
Also known as Suddenly Mulligan
A minor figure in the revolutionary circles, often drunk and belligerent.
Betty
minor
Also known as Aunt Betty
An older woman who provides shelter and gossip in the tenements.
Biddy Burke
minor
Also known as Biddy
A sharp-tongued neighbor and friend of Mary McPhillip.
Louisa Cummins
minor
Also known as Louisa
A young woman courted by several men in the neighborhood.
Tommy Connor
minor
Also known as Connor
A young man involved in the republican underground.
Comrade Hackett
minor
Also known as Hackett, Peter Hackett, Peter
A revolutionary comrade of Dan Gallagher, involved in planning.
Comrade Curley
minor
Also known as Curley
A minor revolutionary figure in the organization.
Mary Hynes
minor
A woman from the neighborhood, briefly mentioned.
Father Conroy
minor
Also known as Fr. Conroy, Conroy
A priest who appears in the community scenes.
Jack McPhillip
minor
Also known as Johnny
Frankie's younger brother, also involved in the republican movement.
Miss McPhillip
minor
Frankie's sister, who helps her mother in the household.
Susie
minor
A young girl who appears briefly in the tenement scenes.
Jim Delaney
minor
Also known as Jimmy
A local man who interacts with Gypo in the pubs.
Johnny Daly
minor
A young man mentioned in the context of the rebellion.
Boxer Lydon
minor
Also known as Lydon
A tough man known for fighting, appears in pub scenes.
Barney Kerrigan
minor
Also known as Barney, Kerrigan
A local man who interacts with the main characters.
Billy Burton
minor
Also known as Billy
A young man involved in the revolutionary activities.
Shanahan
minor
Also known as The Crank Shanahan
A crank and local character known for his complaints.
Cassidy
minor
A minor figure in the republican circles.
Biddy Mac
minor
Also known as Mac
A woman mentioned briefly in the tenement gossip.
Old Ned Lawless
minor
An elderly man who appears in the background of scenes.
Mrs. Delaney
minor
A neighbor woman in the tenement community.
Gyp
minor
A nickname for Gypo Nolan used occasionally.
Ryan
minor
A minor character mentioned in passing.
Tim Flanagan
minor
Also known as Flanagan
A local man who appears briefly in the narrative.