 He was a professor in the Diocesan College of St Macartan's College in 1848 and Professor in the Irish College in Paris before being appointed Parish Priest of Roslea in County Fermanagh.He was appointed as Co-adjutor Bishop of Clogher on 11 December 1864, and succeeded automatically to the See following the death of Bishop Charles McNally.He was ordained bishop on 26 February 1865.