Eilis is a bright, mathematically gifted young woman living in the small rural town of Enniscorthy, Ireland. Lacking strong local career prospects, she relies on her sister's connections to secure passage and employment in Brooklyn, New York. She is observant and deeply attached to her family, making her susceptible to intense homesickness as she transitions to her new independent life.

Tony is a young Italian plumber living in Brooklyn with his large, tight-knit family. He frequently attends Irish community dances because of his fondness for Irish girls. He is patient, attentive, and deeply interested in Eilis, holding himself back to match her pace and ensure she feels comfortable in her new environment.

Jim is a young man from Enniscorthy whose family owns and operates a successful local pub. Firmly entrenched in his hometown's social hierarchy, he initially appears snobbish when he dismisses Eilis at a dance. He represents the comfortable, predictable, and established social class of rural Ireland.

Father Flood is an Irish Catholic priest who runs a large, well-resourced parish in Brooklyn. Having known the Lacey parents in his youth, he steps in to sponsor Eilis's immigration. He acts as a benevolent mentor and guardian, securing her job at Bartocci's department store and enrolling her in bookkeeping classes.

Rose is Eilis's older sister, recognized in town for her glamorous fashion and independent lifestyle. She works a steady office job and serves as the primary breadwinner for their mother following their father's death. Recognizing Eilis's limited prospects in Ireland, Rose sacrifices her own potential opportunities to orchestrate her sister's move to America.

The widowed matriarch of the Lacey family, she lives in Enniscorthy with her two daughters after her sons move to England for work. She expects her daughters to remain close by and care for her. Though she allows Eilis to leave for Brooklyn, she struggles silently with the pain of her children moving away.

Mrs. Kehoe is a conservative Irish landlady who runs the Brooklyn boardinghouse where Eilis resides. She maintains strict control over her lodgers, enforcing rules about cleanliness and male visitors. She favors polite girls like Eilis and enjoys involving herself in the household's social dynamics.

Miss Kelly is the shrewd and judgmental owner of a local grocery shop in Enniscorthy. She uses her position to wield social influence, offering the best products to favored customers while exploiting Eilis's labor for low pay. She thrives on local gossip and acts as an arbiter of status in the small town.

Nancy is Eilis's close friend in Enniscorthy. Her primary focus is courtship and social advancement, specifically targeting George Sheridan as a potential husband. She represents the typical trajectory of young women in their Irish hometown who seek security through marriage.

George is a local Enniscorthy man whose family operates a highly successful shop. He is considered a prime bachelor in the town, and an association with him promises a significant change in social status.

Miss Fortini is Eilis's floor supervisor at Bartocci's in Brooklyn. She is an observant and practical manager who enforces the store's egalitarian customer service policies. She quickly notices when Eilis struggles with severe homesickness and takes immediate steps to help her.

Jack is Eilis's older brother who left Ireland to work in England. When he greets her during her journey, he offers realistic advice about surviving the intense early pangs of homesickness, admitting his own initial struggles away from home.

Georgina is an experienced, confident English woman returning to the United States. As Eilis's bunkmate on the turbulent voyage across the Atlantic, she provides crucial practical help, picking locks during a storm and giving Eilis a makeover to face the immigration officers.

Patty is one of the modern, outgoing lodgers at Mrs. Kehoe's boardinghouse. She embraces American fashion, makeup, and socializing, eventually taking Eilis under her wing to help her prepare for a local Friday night dance.

Diana is another modern-leaning boarder at Mrs. Kehoe's boardinghouse. She shares Patty's enthusiasm for American culture, frequently going out at night and avoiding the strict, conservative atmosphere favored by the older lodgers.

Miss McAdam is a conservative lodger at Mrs. Kehoe's boardinghouse. She clings tightly to traditional Irish values, frequently expressing disapproval of the more modern girls and engaging in household gossip.

Sheila is a conservative boarder at Mrs. Kehoe's who generally aligns with Miss McAdam's views. She prefers quiet nights in over the excitement of the local dances, representing the traditional mindset Eilis fears adopting permanently.

Frank is Tony's outspoken, young brother. At family gatherings, he freely shares his opinions and family history, demonstrating the lively and protective dynamic of the Italian-American household.