Eoin MacWhite facts for kids

Eoin MacWhite (born 1923 – died 1972) was an important Irish person who worked as a diplomat, an archaeologist, and a scholar. This means he helped represent his country to others, studied ancient history, and was a very knowledgeable person.

Early Life and Birth

Eoin MacWhite was born in Geneva, a city in Switzerland, in 1923. His father, Michael MacWhite, was there as part of a special group representing the new country called the Irish Free State. This was a very exciting time because Ireland was applying to join the League of Nations. The League of Nations was a group of countries that worked together for peace after World War I.

Interestingly, Eoin MacWhite was born on the very same day that the Irish Free State was accepted into the League of Nations! It was a day of both national celebration and a sad family event.

Education and Career

Eoin MacWhite went to University College Dublin starting in 1940. He loved learning about old things and eventually earned a special degree called a PhD in Archaeology. This means he became an expert in studying human history through digging up old sites and artifacts.

Discoveries in Archaeology

He made important discoveries in archaeology. For example, he studied ancient rock art found in Ireland. He also worked on understanding the Bronze Age in a region called Iberia (which is modern-day Spain and Portugal). The Bronze Age was a time long ago when people used bronze to make tools and weapons.

Diplomatic Service

Later, Eoin MacWhite joined the Irish diplomatic service. This is a group of people who represent their country in other parts of the world. He became an ambassador, which is the highest rank for a diplomat. He represented Ireland in Australia first, and then later in the Netherlands. His job was to build good relationships between Ireland and these countries.

Later Life and Passing

Eoin MacWhite passed away in 1972. He was involved in a car accident.