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Mary, Countess of Rosse, was born Mary Field, daughter of John Wilmer Field, in 1813. She married Lord William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse on 14 April 1836, moving from Yorkshire to Birr Castle, King’s County. She and Lord Rosse shared an interest in astronomy, and with significant financial investment on Lady Mary’s part they built the largest telescope in the world at the time, the ‘Leviathan of Parsonstown.’ Along with her interest in astronomy, Mary Rosse was an accomplished blacksmith, and aided in construction of the telescope. Her scientific interests brought her to become close friends with the cousin of the 3rd Earl, Mary Ward, who was a frequent visitor at Birr Castle. As the Countess of Rosse, she carried out significant renovations to Birr Castle under the advice of her uncle, Richard Wharton Myddleton. Through her many projects, she managed to employ over 500 men during the Great Famine of 1845-47. Overshadowing her renovations of Birr Castle, and aid in building the Leviathan of Parsonstown, Mary Rosse is best known for her work in early daguerreotype and glass plate photography. Her work was praised by a family acquaintance, William Henry Fox Talbot, and she joined the Dublin Photographic Society. In 1859 her work won her a silver medal for the best paper negative from the Photographic Society of Ireland. Mary Rosse had four children who survived to adulthood: Laurence (1840-1908), Randal (1848-1936), Richard Clere (1851-1923), and Charles (1854-1931). She died in 1885.

James Franck Rolleston , D. L., J. P., Franckford Castle, Dunkerrin, Co. Offaly, was a member of King's County Grand Jury, serving as Sheriff. He was also a chairman of the Roscrea Board of Guardians.

James Rogers of 12 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin and Tullamore was admitted a solicitor in March 1907 and was from Aughamore near Knock, County Mayo. After a short period in the Ordnance Survey Office he took up law and served his apprenticeship with the firm of A & L Goodbody at their Tullamore office. He established the firm of Rogers & Company at High Street, Tullamore, a few doors from where he had been trained probably in 1908 or 1909. He was enthusiastic about the Irish language and culture and was prominent in the Gaelic League and was subsequently employed in defending Sinn Féin prisoners connected with the ‘affray’ at Tullamore in March 1916. Rogers was election agent for the Sinn Féin candidates in 1918 and supervised all funds of the republican loan in County Offaly. He was election agent for the ‘Free State party’ in April 1922 and in 1923 was appointed state solicitor for County Offaly, the position of crown solicitor having been disposed with. Rogers resigned in August 1926 on his being appointed first county registrar for County Offaly. He married in April 1944 Miss Mary J (Mollie) O’Donnell, a daughter of Mr J. Rodney O’Donnell OBE and Mrs O’Donnell of 4 Royal Marine Terrace, Bray and the best man was the circuit court judge, William Gleeson. James Rogers retired from the position of county registrar in 1943 and returned to private practice, conveniently switching place with his old colleague, James A. Ennis. The move may have been for economic reasons in view of his impending second marriage. He had taken a keen interest in local history and was the founder of the Offaly Archaeological and Historical Society in 1938. James Rogers died in June 1967 some sixty years after he qualified. His old firm was closed by the Law Society in 1982 following the difficulties experienced by his successor, Eugene Hunt.

James Lewis Westropp Roe, second son of Richard Westropp Roe (1868-1914) and Anne Mary Somers (1871-1934), was born 9 July 1911 in Mullingar, County Westmeath. He proposed to Alice Blanche Anna Lamb (1905-1932) in August 1932, but they never married due to her untimely death in November 1932. Lewis Roe died 19 January 1986 in Chichester, England.

Grace Odell Westropp, youngest daughter of Edmond Odell Westropp (1778-1864) and Jane Gibbings (c. 1789), was born in Ballysteen, County Limerick, around the year 1831. She married Peter Henry Roe in Askeaton, County Limerick, on 14 October 1856. They had seven children: Thomas Henry Roe (1858-1927); George Roe (b. 1862); Peter Henry Roe Junior (b. 1864); Edmond Westropp Roe (b. 1865); Richard Westropp Roe (1868-1914); Mary Elizabeth Milly Deane Roe (b. 1869); and Elizabeth Henrietta Emily Florence Roe (1872-1944). Her husband, Peter Henry Roe died 6 August 1893 in Lambeth, London, England. Grace Odell Westropp died 1 October 1909 at 99 Gypsy Hill, Norwood, Surrey, England.

Eleanor Grace Watney Roe, only daughter of Thomas Henry Roe (1858-1927) and Eleanor Jane Watney (1863-1897), was born 1 August 1885 in Norwood, Surrey, England. She was as suffragette. In 1915 served as chief organiser of the 'Women's Right to Serve' procession in London. She was arrested, and a photograph of her was printed in the 'Daily Mirror'. After World War I she studied theosophy. On 10 August 1921 she arrived in Detroit, Michigan, with her close friend Christabel Pankhurst. Both women settled in California. During the 1930s, Grace was became involved in social work. After the Second World War Grace Roe ran a book shop and metaphysical library in Santa Barbara, California. She acted as literary executor for Christabel after her friend's death in 1958. In 1961 she was vice-president of the Suffragette Fellowship of London. Grace Roe died in Tonbridge, Kent, England in 1979.

Anne Mary Somers, daughter of Richard Somers and Mary Roe, was born in Castletown, County Westmeath, around the year 1871. She married Richard Westropp Roe (1868-1914) at Christ Church, Norwood, Surrey, England, on 23 June 1907. They had two sons: Richard Henry Somers Roe (b 1909) and James Lewis Westropp Roe (1911-1986). By 1911 the family had taken up residence at Streamstown House, County Westmeath, three years before the death of her husband. Anne Mary Roe died in County Westmeath on 6 January 1934.