Patrick Braden is a transgender person navigating youth in the small, strictly religious Irish town of Tyreelin during the 1960s and 1970s. Raised in a chaotic foster home after being abandoned at birth, Braden openly explores gender fluidity by wearing women's clothing and organizing modeling shows. To cope with the harshness of poverty and social rejection, Braden crafts a vivid fantasy life, dreaming of glamorous escapes to Pluto and searching for validation through relationships with older men.

Charlie is an artistic, fiercely independent girl who acts as the leader of her childhood friend group in Tyreelin. She attends the National College of Art and Design, representing the creativity and femininity that Braden admires and emulates. Charlie provides a safe environment for Braden's early explorations of fashion and identity, acting as a constant anchor despite the turbulent political climate around them.

Irwin is a traditionally masculine boy growing up in Tyreelin who eventually becomes involved in Irish nationalist politics. While he occasionally minds Braden's perfume and dresses, he humors his friend by playing games to keep the peace. Irwin represents the conventional, patriotic path expected of young Irish men, standing in stark contrast to Braden's flamboyant rebellion.

Terence is a psychiatrist who treats Braden in a hospital setting. He acts as a voice of reason, offering the psychological insight and emotional stability that Braden desperately craves. Terence encourages Braden to confront past traumas by writing them down, effectively prompting the creation of the narrative itself.

Father Bernard is a Catholic priest in Tyreelin and the unacknowledged biological father of Patrick Braden. He represents the hypocrisy of the local religious establishment, maintaining his pious public image while secretly providing financial upkeep to hide his past indiscretions. His refusal to publicly claim his child fuels much of Braden's lifelong anger and provocative behavior.

Eily is Braden's biological mother, a young girl from a respectable family who vanishes from Tyreelin immediately after leaving her newborn son in foster care. She never directly appears in the present timeline, existing entirely through the community's rumors and Braden's powerful, idealized fantasies of a glamorous savior.

Whiskers, also known as Hairy Ma, is Braden's alcoholic foster mother in Tyreelin. She raises Braden alongside six other children in a chaotic, impoverished household dubbed "Rat Trap Mansions." She collects money from Father Bernard for Braden's upkeep but struggles to provide a loving or supportive environment.

Eamon is a married politician who acts as a wealthy lover to Braden, who privately nicknames him "Mr. Dummy Teat." He provides Braden with money and a cottage, seeking both sexual gratification and bizarre emotional comfort, often acting infantile to cope with the loss of his own mother.

Caroline is Braden's foster sister in the Whiskers household. Despite the bleak conditions of their home, she makes an effort to be kind to Braden and eventually shares key information regarding the financial arrangements of his upbringing.

Bertie is an eccentric musician in London who invites Braden to move in with him. Their relationship provides Braden with a temporary reprieve from street work, allowing him to perform in front of crowds, though Bertie's mental stability proves fragile.

Louise is a grieving landlady in London who lost her young son to a bus accident. She persuades Braden to wear her deceased son's clothes and sit on her lap, using role-play to process her grief and unknowingly triggering Braden's own maternal longing.

Peepers is an English teacher in Tyreelin who initially encourages Braden's talent for writing. He quickly becomes scandalized when Braden submits explicit, provocative stories aimed at insulting the local religious authorities.

Silky String is a suave, well-dressed elderly man who presents a polite facade before subjecting Braden to a terrifying and violent attack. His actions leave Braden deeply traumatized and fearful of the streets.

Martina is a fifteen-year-old girl in Tyreelin who engages in affairs with older, married men. When Braden desperately attempts to warn her about the danger of unwanted pregnancies, she rejects the advice and calls for help.

Brendan is a local man in Tyreelin who becomes the object of Braden's intense romantic infatuation. Completely unaware of or uninterested in Braden's obsessive affection, his interactions at the bar trigger a severe emotional crisis for the protagonist.

Tina is Brendan Cleeve's girlfriend in Tyreelin. Her public display of affection with Brendan sparks a dangerous wave of jealousy in Braden, leading to a dramatic and destructive confrontation.