Character guide

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.