Career
He first stood for election at the 1943 general election for the Kilkenny constituency but was not successful. He was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann by the Agricultural Panel and served until 1944. He was unsuccessful candidate at the 1944 general election but was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1948 general election as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency.
In 1951 he joined the Cabinet of Éamon de Valera as Minister for Agriculture, serving in government on one occasion.
