 In October 1915, he enlisted in "C" Company Limerick City Battalion under Michael Colivet, and was present at Killonan with the rest of his battalion during the Easter Rising, but after hearing word that the Rising was called off, the battalion marched back to Limerick.Soon after, the Battalion split and he then joined "A" Company of the newly formed Second Battalion.His home then became the battalion dispatch centre and he was admitted to the ranks of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.