He was born in Geneva where his father, Michael MacWhite, was serving as a member of the delegation chosen to represent the newly independentIrish Free State. At the time, the Irish were applying to join the League of Nations. Eoin MacWhite was born on the same day that the Irish Free State's application for membership was approved. His birth coincided with a tragicevent for the MacWhite family. On the very day he was born, his infant sister died suddenly. Each member of the Irish delegation attended the infant's funeral in Geneva.