Begley was a carpenter and secondary school teacher before entering national politics.
In 1975, Begley became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance following the death of Henry Kenny.
[1] In 1981, he became a Junior Minister for the Department of Industry and Commerce in the government of Garret FitzGerald.
[1] Begley remained a TD until losing his seat at the 1989 general election to the Labour Party's Michael Moynihan.
Tributes were paid among many politicians including Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.