He was educated locally before going to St Patrick's College, Dublin, to train as a primary schoolteacher.
He returned to Leitrim after graduation and succeeded his father as principal of Drummons national school.
[1] He was involved with Conradh na Gaeilge and the GAA, and was influenced by fellow Leitrim man Seán Mac Diarmada.
[1] He opposed the Anglo-Irish Treaty and was active in the Sligo–Leitrim border area during the Irish Civil War with the Anti-Treaty IRA.
He was disappointed by the decision of Éamon de Valera to enter the Dáil in 1926, and never joined Fianna Fáil.