 He was ordained to the priesthood by Patrick McGettigan, Bishop of Raphoe in 1839.He was appointed a curate at Inver in October 1839, followed by as a curate at Letterkenny in March 1840, and then the parish priest in Ballyshannon in June 1855.He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Raphoe and Titular Bishop of Geras by the Holy See on 18 February 1856 and consecrated to the Episcopate on 18 May 1856.