He served as the Bishop of Kilmore from 1972 to 1998[1] and chaired the coordinating committee for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland.
[1] He attended Aghawillin National School where he contributed tales to the 1938 Dúchas folklore collection.
[1] His episcopal consecration took place on 10 December 1972, the principal consecrator was Cardinal William Conway, Archbishop of Armagh, and the principal co-consecrators were Archbishop Gaetano Alibrandi, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and Bishop Neil Farren of Derry.
[1] In 1979, he was chairman of the National Committee which organised the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland.
He was chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Education for many years and played a key part in the setting up of the present structures for the boards of management of primary schools.