Education
He completed his training for the priesthood at Street Patrick"s College, Maynooth and the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. He attended primary school in Athlone, Company Westmeath and went on to attend secondary school at Summerhill College, Sligo from 1969 until 1974. He attended the seminary for Diocese of Elphin from 1974 to 1982.
Career
He was ordained a priest on 4 July 1982 for the Diocese of Elphin. He attended University College Cork earning a Bachelor of Science in 1978 he went on to Street Patrick"s College, Maynooth earning a Bachelor's Degree in 1981. He completed his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1983.
In 2008 he became the pastor at Ballagh and took responsibility in the diocese for child protection and assistance to the elderly and sick clergy.
He was appointed Bishop of Kerry by Pope Francis on 2 May 2013, and was consecrated at Street Mary"s Cathedral, Killarney on 21 July by Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly.
Membership
He returned to Ireland, was first spiritual director at Summerhill College (1983-1986), then was appointed assistant priest at Roscommon (1986–1988), member of the double Galway Regional Court (1988-1995), assistant priest at Saint Mary"s, Sligo (1995–2002) and judicial vicar from October 2002–July 2008.