 He began working as a teacher in St. Malachy's High School in 1968, serving as Vice Principal from 1986–1998 and over-seeing the school's transition to A-levels.Eamonn has been a community leader in the Castlewellan and Newcastle area since the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Movement.In 1977 he was elected to Down District Council for the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and has now served on the Council for 34 years.