Liam

Role in the Story:

• Liam is Máire's older brother. He is self-centred and avoids responsibility for his sister.

Relationships with Other Characters:

• Máire Ní Chathasaigh: As Máire's older brother, he shows very little care for her. He only took her to the dance because their mother pressured him into it. Later, when Máire needs support, he refuses to take any responsibility for her.
• Bean Uí Chathasaigh: Liam is controlled by his mother, who expects him to help run the farm and look after her as she gets older. He resents this control and often tries to avoid his duties.
• Beití de Búrca: Liam is dating Beití and is more focused on his relationship with her than on helping his family. His relationship with Beití is broken off later in the play due to the scandal surrounding Máire.

Key Actions in the Play:

1. Takes Máire to the Dance: Liam brings Máire to the dance at the beginning of the play, only because their mother forced him to. After that, he pays little attention to her and focuses on his own date with Beití.

2. Avoids Responsibility: When Máire's situation comes to light, Liam is quick to distance himself from her.

3. Relationship Breaks Down: After Máire's tragic end, Beití breaks off her engagement to Liam, unable to deal with the shame that the situation has brought on the family. Liam blames Máire for this, showing how shallow and selfish his priorities are.

Symbolism/Importance:

Liam represents the indifferent bystander in An Triail. He stands by, refusing to get involved or take responsibility for what happens to his sister, showing how family and society often turned their backs on unmarried mothers.

Aidiachtaí

Leithleach	Selfish
Lag	Weak
Féinlárnach	Self-centred
Meata	Cowardly

1. An rince

(The dance)

• Is é Liam an deartháir is sine.
  • Liam is the eldest brother.
• Ní bhfuair Máire aon tacaíocht óna deartháir.
  • Máire did not receive any support from her brother.
• Is é Liam an duine a thóg Máire go dtí an rince, ach níor choiméad sé a shúile ar Mháire mar bhí sé ró-ghnóthach ar tóir Beití de Búrca.
  • Liam is the person who took Máire to the dance, but he did not keep his eyes on Máire as he was too busy pursuing Beití de Búrca.

2. Faoi bhois an chait ag a mhathair

(Under the thumb of his mother)

• Bhí ar Liam éalú tríd an bhfuinneog chun bualadh lena chairde agus le Beití san oiche.
  • Liam had to escape through the window to meet his friends and Beití at night.
• Nuair a fuair a mháthair amach go raibh Máire ag iompar clainne, níor thacaigh sé léi.
  • When his mother found out that Máire was pregnant, he did not support her.
• Nuair a bhuail Máire le Colm i mBaile Átha Cliath, is léir nách ndearna Liam aon iarracht dul i dteagmháil léi.
  • When Máire met Colm in Dublin, it is clear that Liam made no effort to contact her.
• Ní raibh sé cróga go leor chun seasamh roimh a mháthair.
  • He was not brave enough to stand up to his mother.

3. Gan aiféala

(Without remorse)

• Tar éis bháis Máire – nuair atá sé á cheistiú – tá sé cosantach – 'ní mise a coimeádaí.'
  • After Máire's death - when he is being questioned - he is defensive - 'I'm not her keeper'.
• Bhris Beití an cleamhnas leis mar ní raibh sí in ann an phoibliócht a sheasamh.
  • Beití broke the engagement with him because she was unable to stand the publicity.

Quote:

"Ní mise a coimeádaí."

"I'm not her keeper."