Joe Dunne was born in 1923 in Dublins Liberties. Ten months later, his father died. When Joe was five, he was committed to the care of the Sisters of Charity in Kilkenny, and later moved to Carriglea Park Industrial School in Dun Laoghaire. At fifteen, he entered the Civil Service as a Post Office messenger boy. He was to gain the rank of assistant principal officer, and retired after 48 years service. In 1953 he married Agnes OFlanagan; they live in Dublin and have a daughter, four sons and eight grandchildren.