Caitín
Patch’s daughter. A girl of 15 who has lived all her life on the island. She is barefoot.
Sean
Michael Davey, the engineer’s son. A boy of 16. Irish, but from further east. He has had a basic education. He stammers when he talks to girls, but never when he talks of engineering. He wears boots.
Brigid
An island woman in her late 30s who has lost her husband in the famine. She is a village storyteller. She wears pampooties.
Maire
An enigmatic woman in indeterminate middle age. She was rescued from the sea by Patch and lives with him, though not as his wife. She is not of the island. She is barefoot.
Michael Davey
An engineer who has worked up from being a stonemason and is now embracing the modern technologies. He is in his 40s. He is from further East in Ireland. He wears boots.
Ruairí Dearg
An island fisherman and sometime friend of Patch. He is in his 40s. He wears pampooties.
Ruairí and Michael Davey may be double cast