Christopher Mahon
Old Mahon, his father, a squatter
Michael James Flaherty (called Michael James), a publican
Margaret Flaherty (called Pegeen Mike), his daughter
Widow Quin, a woman of about thirty
Shawn Keough, her cousin, a young farmer
Philly Cullen and Jimmy Farrell, small farmers
Sara Tansey, Susan Brady, and Honor Blake, village girls
A Bellman
Some Peasants
The action takes place near a village, on a wild coast of Mayo. The first Act passes on an evening of autumn, the other two Acts on the following day.