# The Encounter with Eileen Ni Cooley explained — The Demi-Gods

> Chapter companion for The Demi-Gods by James Stephens.

## What happens

Patsy Mac Cann encounters Brien O'Brien and Eileen Ni Cooley on the road. After a brief confrontation, a fight breaks out between Mac Cann and O'Brien, which ends when a donkey kicks O'Brien in the head, killing him. Mac Cann buries O'Brien with a silver threepenny piece in his hand as the twilight falls.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Conflict

The rivalry between Mac Cann and O'Brien over Eileen Ni Cooley leads to violence and death.

### Social Marginalization

Eileen Ni Cooley is portrayed as a woman caught between men, unable to go her own way.

## Character check-ins

### Patsy Mac Cann

Confronts Brien O'Brien and fights him; buries O'Brien after his accidental death.

### Brien O'Brien

Killed by a donkey's kick during the fight with Mac Cann.

### Eileen Ni Cooley

Present during the confrontation; sought out Mac Cann to escape O'Brien.

### Mary Mac Cann

Witnesses the fight and burial, sitting rigid with shock.

### Caeltia Mac Dea

Crouches with Cuchulain, observing the events.

### Cuchulain

Laughs at the outcome and departs down the road.

## Key lines

> It's the man himself, the man that stole my clothes.

Mac Cann recognizes O'Brien as the one who took his clothes.

_Mac Cann's accusation reveals a prior conflict._

> We had better bury the man.

Mac Cann suggests they bury O'Brien's body.

_Mac Cann takes responsibility for the burial._

> He should have something with himself and he taking the long journey.

Mac Cann believes O'Brien should have money for the afterlife.

_Reflects superstitious or religious beliefs about death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/xxx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters