Nuala's grandmother's parenting style
Nuala's mother said that her mother once threw a red-hot iron at her. This is situational irony because parents are supposed to be loving and caring towards their children and not put them in harm's way.
The life of Nuala's mother
The narrator's mother was against child-rearing and housework from a young age. Despite this, she got married and as the narrator says, '...she was condemned to spend her life as a mother and a home-maker.' Women were only supposed to be wives and mothers at the time.
Tomas O'Faolain
Tomas often left his family in pursuit of his career and enjoyment. Because of this, his wife was always overworked for they had thirteen children and the family lived in poverty.
The mistress
Tomas had a mistress outside of his marriage to Nuala's mother. His mistress gave birth to a daughter and because of this, the mistress wanted to pay off Nuala's mother to allow her husband to leave for Australia with her (the mistress).
The nun's reaction
When Nuala was in a Christmas play in Sunday school, she saw someone she knew and waved at them in the middle of the play. This angered the nun who broke a chair and hit her with its leg. This is a situational irony for the nun overreacted to the situation.
