I've disagreed with others about this, but I've always felt as though Colm was somewhat relieved by the end. The pressure of greatness was gone now that he'd cut off all his fingers, and in his mind he could both blame it on Padraic and now count himself among the "ordinary" and try and mend fences with the man. The tragedy in my mind was that it was too late; Padraic would forever be his enemy for what he had done.