Helen Mirren as Kathleen Quigley

Fionnula Flanagan as Annie Higgins

Aidan Gillen as Gerard Quigley

David O'Hara as Frank Higgins

John Lynch as Bobby Sands

Tom Hollander as Farnsworth

Tim Woodward as Harrington

Ciarán Hinds as Danny Boyle

Geraldine O'Rawe as Alice Quigley

Gerard McSorley as Father Daly

Dan Gordon as Inspector McPeake

Grainne Delany as Theresa Higgins

Ciarán Fitzgerald as Liam Quigley

Robert Lang as Government Minister

Stephen Hogan as Young Turk

Peter Howitt as SAS Leader

Bosco Hogan as British Captain

Jimmy Keogh as Jimmy Higgins

John Kavanagh as Cardinal

Oliver Maguire as Frank Maguire

Doreen Keogh as Mother Superior

Anna Megan as Rosie Quigley

Hugh O'Donnell as Paddy

John Higgins as John Deegan

Joan Sheehy as Woman Searcher #1

Mal Whyte as Barrister

Alan Barry as Judge

Barry Cassin as Prosecutor

Brian Mallon as Prison Officer Jones

Sean Lawlor as Platoon Leader

Michael Sherrie as Assistant Governor

James Hickey as Young Son

Karen Carlisle as Prisoner's Girlfriend

Fiona Higgins as Prisoner's Sister

Jer O'Leary as Hunger Striker #1

Tim McDonnell as Hunger Striker #2

Tony Flynn as Cyclist

Liam Byrne as Prisoner Murphy

Pat Mulryan as IRA Man #1

Valerie Roe as Girl in Farnsworth's Office

Deirdre McAliskey as Woman in Court

Michael O'Sullivan as Prison Officer Davis

Jennifer Gibney as Woman Searcher #2

Robert Taylor as Election Agent

Kate Perry as Prison Officer's Widow

Anthony Brophy as Prisoner's Leader

Mickey McEneaney as Merry Mac

Patrick McEneaney as Merry Mac

Gene Berrills as Merry Mac

Ronan O'Donoghue as Radio Announcer

Richard Neilson as Radio Announcer

Richard Butler as MP (uncredited)