Career
He moved to Westmeath, first to Kilbeggan and then to Mullingar. An auctioneer and farmer by profession, he was elected to Westmeath county council, and then to Seanad Éireann on the Agricultural Panel at a by-election on 14 May 1956. He was re-elected at the 1957 Seanad election, this time on the Labour Panel.
He was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 1961 general election.
He was re-elected at the 1965, 1969, 1973 and 1977 general elections. He concentrated on local constituency needs, with the electoral slogan "Vote for Joe, the Manitoba you Know." He retired at the 1981 general election.
