Patrick Ireland Character Analysis in Columbine

A survivor of the Columbine attack who rose to national attention after dropping, bloodied and wounded, from the library window on to the roof of a SWAT vehicle. After a lengthy recovery from a debilitating brain injury that robbed him briefly of both language and motor function, Patrick went on to become valedictorian of his class at Columbine and an active, vocal member of the community of Columbine survivors.

Patrick Ireland Character Timeline in Columbine

The timeline below shows where the character Patrick Ireland appears in Columbine. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Memory, Bearing Witness, Trauma, and Testimony Theme Icon

As prom approaches, many students have struggled to find dates—one of them is Patrick Ireland, who is in love with his best friend Laura. An athlete who plays basketball,... (full context)

Patrick Ireland heads to the library as lunch begins, planning on finishing his homework during the... (full context)

Patrick Ireland’s parents know that he always goes off-campus for lunch, and they approach the Columbine... (full context)

Media: Misinformation and Sensationalism Theme Icon

...the ground, and they drive their truck toward the window. SWAT officers call up to Patrick Ireland, but he is confused. He is dizzy, his vision is limited, and he is... (full context)

John and Kathy Ireland receive a call telling them that Patrick—whose fall out the window they did not see—has been taken to St. Anthony’s hospital. They... (full context)

As one SWAT team rescued Patrick from the library, another rescued the sixty students “barricaded” inside the choir room. Sixty more... (full context)

Patrick Ireland’s doctors focus on helping him regain brain function, and do not bother to operate... (full context)

Patrick Ireland grows frustrated by his attempts to talk again. The language centers of his brain... (full context)

Patrick understands that he has been shot, but doesn’t yet realize “the scale of the massacre.”... (full context)

Meanwhile, Patrick Ireland struggles to regain movement of his legs. He is rebuilding the frayed signals in... (full context)

Kathy Ireland, Patrick Ireland’s mother, is full of rage toward the killers. Patrick urges her to forgive them,... (full context)

...the students before raising the flags from half-mast for the first time since April 20th. Patrick Ireland leads the teeming crowd of students back into their school. (full context)

Patrick Ireland does well in school and keeps his status as valedictorian in sight. However, he... (full context)

On May 20th, Patrick Ireland graduates as valedictorian of his class, and delivers a hope-filled valedictory address in which... (full context)

Patrick Ireland attends Colorado State University, and graduates magna cum laude with a degree in business.... (full context)

Patrick Ireland still sees many of his friends from high school, but they do not really... (full context)

Religion: Escapism, Evangelism, Opportunism Theme Icon

...ceremony, Bill Clinton delivers an address paying homage to the victims and their “magnificent” families. Patrick Ireland marries his college sweetheart. Mr. D and Patrick’s doctors from Craig Hospital are in... (full context)

Patrick Ireland speaks at the dedication of the Columbine memorial, and thirteen doves are released into... (full context)