Character Relationship Map: The Field

Characters

• 'Bull' McCabe (played by Richard Harris) — protagonist

  Main protagonist. A stubborn Irish farmer who rents a highly productive field from a widow. Deeply attached to the land, which he improved over generations. Haunted by the suicide of his older son Sea...

• Bird' O'Donnell (played by John Hurt) — protagonist

  McCabe's devoted follower and loyal companion. Acts as McCabe's proxy during the second land auction, successfully securing the field for 101 pounds when McCabe is absent. Later witnesses McCabe's des...

• Tadgh McCabe (played by Sean Bean) — supporting

  Bull's younger son. Initially responsible for killing the widow's donkey and secretly harassing her, fueling the widow's decision to auction the field. Lacks confidence and conflicts with his father....

• Widow (played by Frances Tomelty) — supporting

  The landowner who rents the field to McCabe's family for generations. Following her husband's death anniversary, she opts to sell the land via public auction rather than directly to the tenant. She ha...

• Tomás (played by Noel O'Donovan) — supporting
• Maggie McCabe (played by Brenda Fricker) — supporting

  Bull's wife, who has been silently grieving for 18 years following the suicide of their older son, Seamie. She remains emotionally estranged from her husband throughout the film but appears at the tra...

• Girl at Dance (played by Rachael Dowling) — minor
• Girl at Dance (played by Sarah Cronin-Stanley) — minor
• McRoarty (played by Sara Jane Scaife) — minor
• Dan Paddy Andy (played by Eamon Keane) — minor
• Katie - The Tinker Girl (played by Jenny Conroy) — minor
• Flanagan (played by John Cowley) — minor
• 2nd Tinker Woman (played by Joan Sheehy) — minor
• Sergeant (played by Malachy McCourt) — minor
• Tinker (played by Ronan Wilmot) — minor
• Boy at Dance (played by David Wilmot) — minor
• Tinker Woman (played by Ruth McCabe) — supporting

  A member of the Irish Traveller community whom Tadhg has fallen in love with. After the fatal confrontation with Peter, Tadhg seeks refuge with her and they plan to flee together. She is present at th...

• Quarryman (played by Brendan Gleeson) — supporting
• Peter - The American (played by Tom Berenger) — supporting

  An American developer seeking to build a hydro-electric plant and quarry stone on the land. He aggressively outbids McCabe at the auction, driving up the price. His refusal to yield leads to a violent...

• Father Chris Doran (played by Sean McGinley) — supporting

  The local parish priest who supports Peter's development plans. He accompanies Peter to the rectory confrontation and later arrives at McCabe's home to address the discovery of Peter's body, serving a...

Story Analysis

A generational struggle over land ownership spirals into familial tragedy and psychological collapse.

Plot Progression

1. The Rented Field & The Donkey
2. The Auction War & Rising Tensions
3. Blood at the Waterfall
4. Tragedy on the Cliffs