[2] Edward was educated at Father Doyle's School, Arran Quay and in 1861 entered Maynooth College, and was ordained priest on 24 June 1839.

After his ordination he served successively as curate in Clontarf and in 1853 as administrator at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street, in Dublin.

[4] He was transferred of the united more parish of Dún Laoghaire (then called Kingstown), Monkstown and Glasthule, from 1865 until 1879, and became a member of the chapter and vicar-general.

His pastoral letter in October 1881 denounced in fierce terms the No Rent Manifesto of the Irish National Land League; thus his return from Rome with the "red hat" almost went un-noticed.

On Sunday 4 January 1880, a collection was made in aid of the distressed districts of Ireland at chapels in the Dublin Diocese, but like his predecessor, Cardinal McCabe came to have a distrust of popular movements.