Why the Banshees of Inisherin Ending, Explained: The Feud May Not Be Over

A friendship turns to violence

Pádraic, played by Colin Farrell, is devastated when Colm, played by Brendan Gleeson, suddenly ends their friendship. Siobhán and Dominic try to ease the growing conflict, but neither succeeds.

Pádraic keeps approaching Colm despite his warning that he will cut off his fingers if Pádraic speaks to him. Colm carries out the threat, throwing the severed fingers at Pádraic’s cottage. One is eaten by Jenny, Pádraic’s pony, who then chokes and dies.

Pádraic responds by setting Colm’s house on fire while Colm is inside. Colm survives, while Siobhán leaves Inisherin for a library job on the mainland.

Dominic and the deaths

Dominic, played by Barry Keoghan, dies by suicide off-screen. The story links his despair to his father Peadar’s abuse, Siobhán’s departure and Pádraic’s growing cruelty. Mrs. McCormick, played by Sheila Flitton, finds Dominic’s body after previously warning Pádraic that one or two deaths would come to the island before the month ended. Jenny’s death may count as the second, if the prediction includes animals.

Mrs. McCormick’s warning could be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Presented as an unpleasant gossip, she may have increased Pádraic’s fears and helped intensify the feud; her role also gives her a banshee-like quality, though there are no literal banshees in the film.

The feud remains unresolved

The next morning, Colm apologizes for Jenny’s death and assumes the two men are even because Pádraic burned his house. Pádraic replies that they would be even only if Colm had died in the fire.

Colm says the Civil War is about to end. Pádraic predicts that they will soon fight again, adding that he thinks that is a good thing. Their exchange leaves the friendship broken and the conflict open-ended.