The Unicorn from the Stars · Character

Johnny Bacach

A limping, jailed beggar who returns to the roads just as whispers of an outlawed rebel named Johnny Gibbons begin to circulate.

major

Also known as Paudeen, Johnny, Paudeen Johnny Bacach

First appearance: the unicorn from the stars

As a major figure in The Unicorn from the Stars, Johnny Bacach is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Johnny Bacach has spent eight months in gaol and finds the countryside alive with drillings, plunder plans, and a leader said to have come from France. He is cautious, skeptical of Paudeen's hero-worship, yet drawn toward the gathering storm around the Brownes' house. His uncertainty about whether the returning rebel is really Johnny Gibbons makes him the reader's wary guide into the uprising's early momentum.

See Johnny Bacach in the unicorn from the stars Book page

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Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Johnny Bacach sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Social
Rivalry

Character groups

Core Dramatis Personae
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point

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Relationships

Unknown Narrator
social · ambivalent
Johnny Bacach is a frequent presence in the narrator's world, possibly a local character… How this plays out →
Father John Thomas Hearne
rivalry · negative
Nanny
rivalry · negative
Andrew Beggars
social · ambivalent
Paudeen Columcille
social · ambivalent
Father John Men
rivalry · negative
Biddy Lally
social · ambivalent
The Doctor
professional · ambivalent

Unknown Narrator
Johnny Bacach is a frequent presence in the narrator's world, possibly a local character or troublemaker whose interactions are chronicled with detail.
Father John Thomas Hearne
Father John Thomas Hearne and Johnny Bacach have frequent, likely contentious interactions, suggesting a conflict between religious authority and a rebellious figure.
Nanny
Johnny Bacach and Nanny have a tense relationship, possibly due to Johnny's disruptive behavior and Nanny's protective role.
Andrew Beggars
Andrew Beggars and Johnny Bacach interact as fellow villagers, though their dynamic may involve friction or rivalry.
Paudeen Columcille
Johnny Bacach and Paudeen Columcille have a minor connection, possibly as fellow villagers or co-conspirators.
Father John Men
Father John Men and Johnny Bacach have a small number of interactions, likely marked by tension due to Johnny's behavior.
Biddy Lally
Biddy Lally and Johnny Bacach have a few interactions, suggesting a minor acquaintance or shared community ties.
The Doctor
Johnny Bacach and The Doctor interact infrequently, likely in a medical context where Johnny is a patient or subject.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Johnny Bacach in the unicorn from the stars