Career
He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1921 general election as a Sinn Féin Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for Louth–Meath. As a supporter of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 he later went on to join Cumann na nGaedheal. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 1924, serving as Minister for Defence until 1927.
