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William “Willie” Dunne
Willie Dunne, the protagonist of A Long Long Way, is born in the winter of 1896 in Dublin, Ireland. Growing up, Willie loves his mother and admires his father, who wants Willie to…
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Jesse Kirwan
Jesse Kirwan is a young Irishman from Cork who joins the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during World War I. Jesse comes from a staunch nationalist family that opposes British rule in Ireland. As a follower of…
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Christy Moran
Christy Moran, an Irishman from Kingstown in County Dublin, is the sergeant-major of Willie’s company in the British Army. Christy speaks roughly and curses often. He complains bitterly about the British Army’s poor treatment…
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Father Buckley
Father Buckley is a Catholic priest who serves as the chaplain in Willie’s company in the British Army. Father Buckley accompanies Willie and his fellow soldiers on the Western Front, holding Mass and offering…
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Pete O’Hara
Pete O’Hara, a young Irish soldier from Sligo, is a member of Willie’s company in the British Army. O’Hara becomes one of Willie’s close friends as they survive the first years of the war…
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Get the entire A Long Long Way LitChart as a printable PDF.
James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father)
James Dunne, Willie’s father, is a tall, stern man from County Wicklow, Ireland. He’s Catholic, and as a unionist, he believes in loyalty to the British crown. In 1912, he becomes chief superintendent of…
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Gretta Lawlor
Gretta Lawlor is the love of Willie Dunne’s life. She and her father, Mr. Lawlor, live in a slum tenement under Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. When she first meets Willie, Gretta is…
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Mr. Lawlor
Mr. Lawlor lives with his daughter Gretta in a slum tenement under Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. He’s a supporter of James Larkin, a prominent Irish trade union leader. In 1913, Mr. Lawlor receives a…
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Captain George Pasley
George Pasley is the young Irish captain of Willie’s platoon in the British Army at the beginning of the war. He’s confident, pensive, and respected by all the men under his command. He becomes…
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Joe Kielty
Joe Kielty, a young Irishman from County Mayo, is a member of Willie’s company in the British Army. His cousin, Joe McNulty, dies in the gas attack near St. Julian, but Joe Kielty…
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Dolly Dunne
Dolly is Willie’s youngest sister. She’s born when Willie is 11 years old, and their mother dies giving birth to her. As a result, Dolly grows up without a mother, but she receives loving…
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Major Stokes
Major Stokes is a British officer in the British Army. He treats Irish soldiers with disdain and contempt, and he insults Willie callously. As the chairman of the court-martial, Major Stokes orders Jesse Kirwan’s…
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Quigley
Quigley is a young Irish soldier who joins Willie’s company on the Western Front in early 1916. His first experience of war is the battle at Hulluch, during which he’s exposed to poisonous gas…
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Timmy Weekes
Timmy Weekes is a young, good-natured soldier from London who joins Willie’s platoon at the beginning of 1917. Although he’s an Englishman, he quickly befriends Willie and the other Irish soldiers in the company…
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Joe Clancy
Clancy is a young man from south Dublin who joins the Royal Dublin Fusiliers around the same time Willie does. Clancy befriends Willie and Johnnie Williams during their training in Cork, and the three soldiers…
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Maud Dunne
Maud is Willie’s oldest sister. She loves Willie and is happy to see him when he returns home from the war. Maud is responsible for taking care of her younger sisters, and she generally…
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Annie Dunne
Annie is Willie’s second-youngest sister. She loves Willie and is excited to see him when he returns home from the war. By the fall of 1917, Annie has strong opinions about the conflict in…
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John “Johnnie” Williams
Williams is a young Irishman who joins the Royal Dublin Fusiliers around the same time Willie does. Williams, Willie, and their third friend Joe Clancy undergo training in Cork and their first experiences of war…
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William Beatty
William Beatty is an Ulsterman from the 36th Division of the British Army. In the winter of 1916, he participates in a boxing match that the soldiers put on for entertainment while in reserve on…
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Miko Cuddy
Miko Cuddy, an Irishman from Mayo, is a soldier in the 16th Division of the British Army. In the winter of 1916, he takes part in a boxing match that the soldiers put on for…
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Minor Characters
Willie’s Mother
Wife of James Dunne, Willie’s mother is a loving parent. When Willie is a young boy, she often asks him to sing for her because she likes his singing voice. She dies giving birth to her fourth child, Dolly, when Willie is 11 years old.
Dempsey
Dempsey is a builder in Dublin. When Willie is 16 years old, he starts working for Dempsey as an apprentice. Dempsey refuses to hire laborers who belong to a workers’ union, and he and his employees work throughout the general strike in Dublin in 1913.
Captain Sheridan
Captain Sheridan is the new leader of Willie’s company in the British Army after Captain Pasley’s death. Captain Sheridan is a cheerful young man from Cavan, Ireland, and he’s fond of marching songs. He dies from multiple gunshot wounds during the capture of Guinchy.
Biggs
Second Lieutenant Biggs, a quiet man from London, becomes the new leader of Willie’s platoon after Captain Sheridan dies. In June 1917, during the battle on the Messines ridge, Biggs is killed by a flare.
Joe McNulty
Joe McNulty is Joe Kielty’s cousin. He’s from County Mayo, Ireland, and he’s a member of Willie’s company in the British Army. He dies during the gas attack near St. Julian.
