 Magee was born in Dublin in 1872 and was educated at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare.Clongowes produced several outstanding Irish cricketers during this period, but Magee found it difficult to gain representation above club level.He originally played for Phoenix Cricket Club, a team based in Dublin, and it wasn't until 1899 that he made his international cricketing debut for Ireland, against I Zingari.