Browne was an enthusiastic learner of the Irish language, but found it difficult to master and by 1844 he proposed in a public letter that to facilitate this learning, it should be written phonetically.
He encouraged secondary education and with Dr Ffrench he was joint patron of the new Patrician Brothers boys boarding school which opened in 1837 at Clarinbridge.
He had the disadvantage of being both popular & poor and was unable to make his ad limina visit to Rome in 1836 but instead sent a detailed written report.
He presided at meetings in Galway of the Precursor Society founded by O'Connell to bring about reforms in October and November 1838, and from 1840 he actively supported the Repeal movement.
Archbishop MacHale attributed Dr. Browne's conciliatory manner, wisdom and ability to the pacific and flourishing state of the diocese at the time.
His great knowledge and piety prompted the clergy in such numbers to give him preferences, although Dr. Browne made no move to secure the more prosperous see for himself.
Mother McCauley of the Mercy Order greatly esteemed the Bishop,[6] whose meek suave character so much impressed her friend O'Connell that he used to call him the Dove, and on his translation to another see the 'Dove of Elphin'.
The Ursulines are said to enjoy most of episcopal patronage, but Bishop Browne has love and charity enough for thousands and embraces all with genuine paternal care and apostolic affection'.
Browne was one of a number of influential individuals who publicly attacked Irish Landlords, including Major Mahon, for their harsh policy of eviction.
The Mahons responded with an attempt to embarrass the Bishop by reporting that his own brother Patrick Browne had evicted tenants from his holdings at Cloonfad, County Roscommon.