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Maurice ‘Moss’ Twomey was born in Fermoy, County Cork, on 10 June in 1897. He was educated by the local Christian Brothers. He joined the Irish Volunteers on its formation in 1914 and proved to be an able recruit. He quickly rose to the rank of Battalion Adjutant Fermoy Battalion by 1918. By 1919, he had attained the rank of Brigade Adjutant to the Cork No. 2 Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). By 1920, Twomey was a staff officer on the general staff of the 1st Southern Division. He was heavily involved in operations during the War of Independence.

After the Anglo-Irish Treaty and during the Civil War, Twomey was a staff officer to General Liam Lynch. He was a member of the occupying force in the Four Courts in 1922, the action that precipitated the Civil War. He had however left the building before it was bombarded by the Free State Army.

Following the Civil War, Twomey was tasked with the entire root and branch reorganisation of the IRA, including the West Clare Brigade. Twomey succeeded Frank Aiken as Chief of Staff of the IRA in 1927, a post he would hold until 1936, when he was interned by the De Valera Government. While incarcerated in the Curragh Camp, Twomey argued with the IRA leadership concerning its policy of supporting Nazi Germany and resigned his position as Chief of Staff. Upon his release, Twomey left the IRA but remained sympathetic to the Republican cause. He subsequently opened a general confectioners and newsagents in Dublin, which became a centre for Republican activities. Maurice Twomey died in Dublin of a heart attack on 8 October 1978.

Maria Ann Emra was born on 8 October 1835 in Downton, Wilshire to the Reverend John Emra, perpetual curate of Redlynch, Somerset, and Maria Lydia née Symes. Her mother died a few days after her birth, and in 1839 her father married Frances Anne Atkinson. From this second marriage, Maria had eight half-siblings. One of them, Alice Emra, was author of a novel entitled The Dark Cavern; or, Harry’s Obedience. Maria Ann Emra never married. She died in Woodford, Essex on 7 March 1904.

Winifred Frances Barrington was born in London on 5 July 1897 as the eldest child and only daughter of Sir Charles Burton Barrington, 5th Baronet, of Glenstal Castle, county Limerick and Mary Rose née Bacon. She served as a nurse during the First World War and was a universal favourite with those who knew her. She struck up a friendship with District Inspector (Major) Henry Biggs, one of the most notorious and hated Black-and-Tan officers. On 14 May 1921, the couple were travelling in a car in Coolboreen, county Tipperary when their vehicle was ambushed by the IRA and Winifred was mistakenly shot and mortally wounded. She died later the same day at home, while Biggs died at the site of the ambush.

Matthew Barrington was born on 21 May 1788 in Limerick as the eldest of five sons and two daughters of Joseph Barrington and Mary née Baggott. He was educated in Limerick and King's Inns and established a highly successful solicitor's practice at 10 Ely Place in Dublin. In 1814, he was appointed a crown solicitor for Munster. From the 1840s he acted as solicitor and adviser to the Great Southern and Western Railway and was instrumental for the establishment of the railway station known as Limerick Junction. He was the founder of Barrington's Hospital and City of Limerick Infirmary (1831), the first general hospital in Limerick to provide for the poor. He owned extensive estates in Limerick and was the builder of the massive Norman revival castle, Glenstal. Matthew Barrington died on 1 April 1861 and is buried in St Mary's cathedral in Limerick. His son, Croker Barrington (1817-1890) took over the management of the legal firm and ran a similar establishment in Limerick city. The firm existed at least until 1974, operating under the name Barrington & Sons.