He studied law at the King's Inns Dublin and Middle Temple London.

He was a practising barrister-at-law on the Western Circuit for several years and a sometime judge under the Arrears Act of 1882.

He was a member of the Irish Nationalist Party, which sought Home Rule for Ireland, and was president of his local branch association in Castlerea.

[4] We observe by the Roscommon Messenger that a large and enthusiastic meeting was held on the 19th ult.

in Castlerea, in support of the Home Rule movement, and that Mr George McDermot B.L., President of the local branch Association, delivered on the occasion an exhaustive, able and eloquent address - in which he recounted in forcible terms the loss and misery which the Union has brought upon Ireland, pointed out the manner in which Irish business is neglected in the House of Commons, and gave convincing proofs of the benefits which the federal arrangement would confer as well on the English people as on all classes of Irishmen.He joined the Irish National League, founded by C.S.