A Mother Characters

Mrs Kearney is a stubborn, upper-class, well-educated woman who lives in Dublin, Ireland. She is Mr Kearney’s wife and Kathleen Kearney’s mother. Her wealth has made her life comfortable, but the opportunities available to… read analysis of Mrs Kearney

Mr Holohan is an inexperienced, rather ineffectual event planner and the assistant secretary of the Eire Abu Society who attempts to plan and advertise a series of four concerts celebrating Ireland’s culture. At the beginning… read analysis of Mr Holohan

Kathleen is Mrs Kearney’s daughter. Because her mother married Mr Kearney, a wealthy bootmaker in Dublin, she receives a top-notch education like her mother’s. However, unlike her mother, she is able to continue… read analysis of Kathleen

Mr Fitzpatrick is the secretary of the Eire Abu Society. Mr Fitzpatrick has a “flat” Dublin accent and a “vacant” face, and he doesn’t seem too disappointed when the concert doesn’t go well. When Mrs… read analysis of Mr Fitzpatrick

When Mrs Kearney asks around to see if there are any Committee members present on the fourth night of the concert series, a steward introduces her to Miss Beirne, one of the Committee secretaries. Miss… read analysis of Miss Beirne

Mr Bell is one of the artistes in the Saturday night concert: the second tenor. He competes every year at the Feis Ceoil, an Irish music festival, but has only won one bronze medal in… read analysis of Mr Bell

Mr Duggan is another one of the artistes—namely, the bass—in the Saturday night concert. He comes from a humble background as a hall porter’s son and worked his way up to subbing for the… read analysis of Mr Duggan

Miss Healy is one of Kathleen Kearney’s friends from the Irish Nationalist movement and one of the artistes, the contralto, at the Saturday night concert. Miss Healy flirts with Mr Hendrick before the concert… read analysis of Miss Healy

Madam Glynn is a very thin, anxious-looking soprano from London. As a subtly English-colonial presence in the concert, Madam Glynn sings Killarney in a “bodiless” voice, using outdated intonations while looking as if she has… read analysis of Madam Glynn

Mr Hendrick is a reporter with the Freeman, a daily Irish Nationalist newspaper. He is supposed to report on the Saturday night concert, but instead spends his time flirting with the contralto, Miss Healy… read analysis of Mr Hendrick

Mr Hendrick tasks Mr O’Madden Burke with writing the report about the Saturday night concert when he decides to leave early. However, O’Madden Burke spends the beginning of his night drinking far away from the… read analysis of Mr O’Madden Burke