He was born in Geneva where his father, Michael MacWhite, was serving as a member of the delegation chosen to represent the newly independent Irish Free State.
Eoin MacWhite was born on the same day that the Irish Free State's application for membership was approved.
Each member of the Irish delegation attended the infant's funeral in Geneva.
[1] He attended University College Dublin from 1940, ultimately earning a PhD in Archaeology.
His important contributions to archaeology included work on Irish rock art and the Iberian Bronze Age.