Martin McDonagh struck gold with The Banshees of Inisherin, which focuses on the consequences of two friends in-fighting during the Irish Civil War. There are many great things to point out about the Oscar-nominated movie but, the effect of Dominic Kearney, the character performed by Barry Keoghan, was definitely one of the stand-out elements.
Based on old Irish folklore from the island of Inis Oirr, off the Galway coast, The Banshees of Inisherin is a cautionary tale for those living there. The wailing of the Banshee is said to warn the residents of trouble and death approaching.
We didn’t exactly see a banshee in Martin McDonagh’s rendition of the old story. But, the character of Mrs. McCormick seems to fill this role, giving vague warnings of upcoming deaths to the islanders. There are also cannons and explosions from the mainland Irish armies wailing in the distance. These are also used as a clever symbol of this mythical creature and a harbinger of death for those close enough to hear.
One character who always seemed to be amidst these unusual events on Inisherin was Dominic Kearney, played by Barry Keoghan, and his subtle impact was, perhaps, one of the most intriguing and brilliant pieces of writing for this film.
What makes Dominic so important?
Dominic is one of the most kind-hearted and transparent characters that we saw in the Banshees of Inisherin. Although he seemed to be a simple-minded young man, a lot of his general behaviors and motivations can be quite relatable to the audience. His transparency and clear aims of having a companion, and friends who cared about him, allowed viewers to easily invest in his journey.
As we know, chasing our goals and matters of the heart, particularly with chaos unfolding all around us, can be a difficult task. There was no shortage of chaos around Dominic, as we see regular bombings and explosions occurring on the mainland. His father was also seen to be abusing him and threatening him on multiple occasions. Another example is simply being surrounded by two of the island’s most prominent figures, whose careless infighting results in missing appendages and ongoing tension at the local pub.
Of course, throughout the movie we see him mention Padraic’s sister, Siobhan, numerous times. Realizing that his options are limited on a small island, Dominic’s urgency is eventually what gives him the courage to ask her if she could see a future with him. However, by this point, the story has established that it would never work between them. The lack of chemistry, as well as Siobhan’s ambition to move beyond Inisherin, makes this an impossible ask for Keoghan’s character.
His heartbreak is one of the most intriguing scenes in the script. Working on a future with Siobhan was one of the only hope-filled aspects of his life. And the rejection is a prime example of how self-deprecating people can become after a defeat or setback during the course of their lives. Dominic’s reaction is a good reflection of how average, everyday people can fall victim to the difficult circumstances they are raised in.
What happens to Dominic?
No one knows exactly what happened to him after his final fallout with Padraic. We find out that Dominic was one of the deaths that Mrs. McCormick predicted, later seeing his body washed ashore. His tragic arc is a great reminder of the reality of life and death, how despite being one of the most kind-hearted and well-intentioned characters we see, his situation was unlikely to lead to a happy ending.
The parallels between Dominic and innocent civilians being caught in the crossfire of war are too apparent. We see the whole island as a reflection of the war on the mainland. Two parties, who were once friends, fight over minor issues and allow it to reach a point of unimaginable heartbreak and consequences.
There are a lot of lessons we can take from his writing about the war in the Banshees of Inisherin. It highlights how divided people can become when we lose sight of the bigger picture. The fate of these characters could have all gone differently with a bit more patience, communication, and understanding of one another.
Martin McDonagh’s latest work really was an example of how to expertly write a character whose specific and obvious priorities develop over the course of the story. The performance of Barry Keoghan which highlights Dominic’s awkwardness and flaws can not be overstated, and was a great display of conflicted character, with the rest of the cast also playing well off Keoghan in each scene.