Philadelphia, Here I Come! Character Analysis

Public Gar (Gareth O’Donnell)

An Irish man in his mid-twenties, Gar is the protagonist of Philadelphia, Here I Come! Split into two characters, Gar has a “Public” and a “Private” persona, who are played by two separate actors. Public… read analysis of Public Gar (Gareth O’Donnell)

Private Gar (Gareth O’Donnell)

An Irish man in his mid-twenties, Gar is the protagonist of Philadelphia, Here I Come! Split into two characters, Gar has a “Public” and a “Private” persona, who are played by two separate actors. Private… read analysis of Private Gar (Gareth O’Donnell)

S.B. O’Donnell (Screwballs)

S.B. is Gar’s father, an older man who owns a store in the small Irish town of Ballybeg and who married Maire (Gar’s mother) when he was 40 and she was only 19. A… read analysis of S.B. O’Donnell (Screwballs)

Maire O’Donnell

Although Maire, Gar’s mother, never appears onstage, her presence looms large in Philadelphia, Here I Come!, since Public Gar and Private Gar frequently think about what life would have been like if she… read analysis of Maire O’Donnell

Madge

Madge is the O’Donnell’s housekeeper who has worked for the family for many years, watching Gar grow from a boy into a man. Unlike S.B., she’s talkative and has a kindly disposition, though she… read analysis of Madge

Kate Doogan

Kate Doogan is a young woman who lives in Ballybeg and who used to date Gar. Kate belongs to a wealthy family, as her father, Senator Doogan, is highly successful. When she and… read analysis of Kate Doogan

Dr. Francis King

Francis King is the man Kate marries instead of Gar. His presence in Ballybeg takes Gar by surprise when Kate and Gar go to her parents’ house to inform them of their plans to… read analysis of Dr. Francis King

Senator Doogan

Senator Doogan is Kate’s father, a man Gar thinks is most likely less respectable in his private life than most people would assume based on his status in the community. When Gar goes to… read analysis of Senator Doogan

Lizzy (Elise) Sweeney

Lizzy is one of Maire’s sisters, and Gar’s aunt. Lizzy lives in Philadelphia and is the one who suggested that Gar should move in with her and her husband, Con. A witty… read analysis of Lizzy (Elise) Sweeney

Con Sweeney

Con Sweeney is Lizzy’s husband, who is also Irish. A kind, deferential man, he travels with his wife and their American friend, Ben Burton, from Philadelphia—where they live—to Ballybeg to visit Gar… read analysis of Con Sweeney

Ben Burton

Ben Burton is an American man who helps Lizzy and Con Sweeney get on their feet when they first come to the United States, letting them live in his apartment and lending them money until… read analysis of Ben Burton

Master Boyle

One of Gar’s former grade school teachers, Master Boyle used to date Gar’s mother Maire before she married his father S.B. Many people in the community speculate that the dissolution of Master Boyle and… read analysis of Master Boyle

Canon Mick O’Byrne

Canon O’Byrne is the head of the school that Gar used to attend as a child, and Master Boyle’s boss. When Boyle visits Gar on the last night before he leaves for the United… read analysis of Canon Mick O’Byrne

Ned

Ned is the ringleader of Gar’s group of friends. A brutish young man obsessed with women and soccer, he visits Gar’s house on Gar’s last night in Ballybeg. Although the group of boys is… read analysis of Ned

Tom

Tom is on the same soccer team as Gar, and is one of his friends in Ballybeg. With Ned and Joe, Tom visits the O’Donnell household on Gar’s last night in Ballybeg, but… read analysis of Tom

Joe

The meekest boy in Gar’s group of friends, Joe is the only one who actually wants to talk about the fact that Gar is about to leave Ballybeg. On the night before Gar’s journey… read analysis of Joe

Minor Characters

Jimmy

A small young man who used to be the goalie on Gar’s soccer team before moving to the United States. Although Gar’s decision to move doesn’t seem to have anything to do with him, Jimmy moved to Philadelphia just like Gar intends to do.