Born in the townland of Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, he was the son of Michael Colbert, a farmer, and Honora McDermott.
[1] An older brother Con Colbert, was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising.
[2] During the Irish War of Independence, Colbert served as Brigade Quartermaster of West Limerick Brigade, IRA and took part in ambushes and operations against British forces while attached to IRA 'Flying Column' (Active Service Unit).
[5] He did not take his seat in the 4th Dáil due to Sinn Féin's abstentionist policy.
Colbert, who was a resident of Bray, County Wicklow, died on 28 January 1970 in Dublin.