Moran is a widower and veteran of the Irish War of Independence who runs a small farm in rural Ireland. Bitter about the changing state of his nation and feeling forgotten by society, he isolates himself and rules his household with an unpredictable, violent temper. He believes deeply in the collective power of the family unit but struggles to respect his children's individual autonomy, driving wedges between himself and his sons.

Rose is an independent woman in her thirties who recently returned to Ireland after working as a nurse in Scotland. Despite local gossip and her mother's disapproval, she is drawn to Moran and chooses to marry him. She quickly becomes the heart of the household, bringing warmth to the family and encouraging her stepchildren to pursue their own futures, even as she must manage her new husband's difficult temper.

Maggie is Moran's eldest daughter. Before Rose's arrival, she shoulders the brunt of the domestic chores for her father and siblings. Freed from these duties by her new stepmother, she gains the confidence to pursue an independent life and successfully applies for a nursing program in London.

Sheila is Moran's middle daughter and a highly intelligent, dedicated student. She dreams of attending university to study medicine but is forced into the civil service in Dublin due to her father's disapproval of doctors and higher social classes. This forced compromise fuels a quiet, lingering resentment toward his controlling nature.

Mona is Moran's youngest daughter. Like Sheila, she studies diligently to secure a position in the civil service in Dublin, seeking an avenue out of her father's oppressive household. She remains tightly bonded with her sisters in their shared, often stressful duty to their aging father.

Luke is Moran's eldest son, who clashed violently with his father's temper and fled to London years prior. He maintains complete estrangement from Moran, cutting off all direct contact and refusing to return to the family farm, though he occasionally stays in touch with his siblings when they move away.

Michael is Moran's youngest son, who grows up somewhat insulated by his sisters and Rose. As he reaches his teenage years, his burgeoning independence and discovery of the outside world lead to explosive, physical clashes with his father over control and autonomy.

McQuaid is a wealthy farmer and fellow veteran who served with Moran during the Irish War of Independence. Though they share a strong bond forged in combat, their relationship fractures permanently over ideological disagreements regarding Ireland's post-war government and personal pride.

Nell is an older woman living in New York who returns to Ireland to visit relatives. She strikes up a romance with young Michael, prompting his sexual awakening and encouraging his rebellion against his father's strict rules.

Mark is an Englishman who meets and marries Maggie in London. He gains Moran's distant approval, despite Moran's refusal to travel for their wedding.

Sean is Sheila's husband, who struggles to keep up with the intense manual labor required on Moran's farm but integrates into the family nonetheless. His clear intimacy with Sheila causes some discomfort in the emotionally repressed household.