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Pete O’Hara
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 the Dublin Metropolitan Police and moves his family into his new quarters in Dublin Castle. As a policeman, James Dunne is dedicated to maintaining order in Dublin against agitators, especially after the Easter Rising in 1916. He views the Irish rebels as traitors, and he despises them for causing strife and destruction in Dublin. As a parent, James Dunne raises his four children lovingly, especially after their mother dies. He also has strict expectations for his son. He’s disappointed in Willie’s failure to reach the required height to become a policeman. He also furiously berates 20-year-old Willie for sympathizing with Irish nationalist insurgents. Later, however, James Dunne regrets his harsh words against his son. In a tender letter, he asks for Willie’s forgiveness. After the end of the war, James Dunne goes mad and dies in a psychiatric facility.
James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father) Quotes in A Long Long Way
The A Long Long Way quotes below are all either spoken by James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father) or refer to James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 6
Quotes
So James Patrick, a man of six foot six, stood his son William, a man of five foot six, into the steaming zinc bath […] and he started to lave his son from head to foot, cascading the water neatly over everything. And the lice must have been flying from Willie Dunne just like those poor men in Sackville Street from the batons, and soon the water speckled with them, little writhing white creatures.
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Chapter 10
Quotes
So Willie started to sing the “Ave Maria.” Well, it was the very selfsame song he had sung for the singing competition, when his father witnessed his undoing. But he had heard that twiddly bit between the verses now, and he knew he was ready for it.
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Chapter 11
Quotes
We got the news now about the three leaders shot. Some of the men think it is a good thing. Myself, I cannot say what I think hardly. How I wish I were at home now and was able to talk these matters over with you. I wish they had not seen fit to shoot them. It doesn’t feel right somehow. I don’t know why. What does John Redmond say about it? When I came through Dublin I saw a young lad killed in a doorway, a rebel he was, and I felt pity for him. He was no older than myself. I wish they had not seen fit to shoot the three leaders.
Chapter 16
Quotes
“You can know your own mind and your father can know his.”
“But my father and me always had the one mind on things. That’s the trouble, I think—I don’t even know. I’m confused, Father.”
Chapter 19
Quotes
“It’s a funny, dark world out at the war, Papa,” said Willie slowly. “It brings your mind to think a thousand thoughts, a thousand new thoughts.”
“I won’t stand here and listen to your villainy!” shouted his father.
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James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father) Quotes in A Long Long Way
The A Long Long Way quotes below are all either spoken by James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father) or refer to James Patrick Dunne (Willie’s Father). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 6
Quotes
So James Patrick, a man of six foot six, stood his son William, a man of five foot six, into the steaming zinc bath […] and he started to lave his son from head to foot, cascading the water neatly over everything. And the lice must have been flying from Willie Dunne just like those poor men in Sackville Street from the batons, and soon the water speckled with them, little writhing white creatures.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10
Quotes
So Willie started to sing the “Ave Maria.” Well, it was the very selfsame song he had sung for the singing competition, when his father witnessed his undoing. But he had heard that twiddly bit between the verses now, and he knew he was ready for it.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11
Quotes
We got the news now about the three leaders shot. Some of the men think it is a good thing. Myself, I cannot say what I think hardly. How I wish I were at home now and was able to talk these matters over with you. I wish they had not seen fit to shoot them. It doesn’t feel right somehow. I don’t know why. What does John Redmond say about it? When I came through Dublin I saw a young lad killed in a doorway, a rebel he was, and I felt pity for him. He was no older than myself. I wish they had not seen fit to shoot the three leaders.
Chapter 16
Quotes
“You can know your own mind and your father can know his.”
“But my father and me always had the one mind on things. That’s the trouble, I think—I don’t even know. I’m confused, Father.”
Chapter 19
Quotes
“It’s a funny, dark world out at the war, Papa,” said Willie slowly. “It brings your mind to think a thousand thoughts, a thousand new thoughts.”
“I won’t stand here and listen to your villainy!” shouted his father.
