Career
A publican before entering politics, he first stood for election in the Cork East constituency at the 1951 general election, but was unsuccessful. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election in 1953 following the death of the Labour Party Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) Seán Keane. He was re-elected at each subsequent election until he retired at the 1981 general election.
From 1961 he was elected for the Cork North–East constituency.
He was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary by the Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and served at the Department of Health from 1973 to 1977.
