Mrs. Kearney, a mother from the middle class with aspirations for social status, sets up her daughter Kathleen to perform on the piano at a well-known Celtic revival festival in Dublin. To ensure the performances go smoothly, Mrs. Kearney spends additional money on her daughter's attire, coordinates the program, and requests multiple tickets for friends and acquaintances. The festival organizer and assistant secretary of the society, Mr. Holohan, is not very competent in the planning stage, so he happily accepts Mrs. Kearney's assistance. They agree that Kathleen will be paid eight guineas for four performances.

At the first two concerts, Mrs. Kearney becomes anxious as she notices that the audience turnout is low and the program is inadequately organized. Upon learning that the third and second-to-last concert will be canceled in order to ensure a better turnout on the final night, Mrs. Kearney emphasizes to the society's secretary, Mr. Fitzpatrick, that this decision should not affect her daughter's agreed-upon payment. However, Fitzpatrick does not commit to a response.

On the last evening, Mrs. Kearney makes another effort to ensure that Kathleen will receive the agreed amount. Mrs. Kearney then tells the organizers that Kathleen will not perform until she is paid, even though the show has already started and the other performers require an accompanist. Fitzpatrick pays her half the promised amount and says the rest will come at intermission. 

Mrs. Kearney is very angry because she thinks her daughter's contract is not valued enough. She is determined to not give in and compromise, even though her actions could harm her daughter's future in the music community of Dublin. At intermission, she is told that the remainder will only be paid after a committee meeting, and Mrs. Kearney takes her daughter and goes home.

In the end each side is very angry with the other. Kathleen doesn't get a chance to express her own thoughts on the matter and is left out of the decision-making process.