He graduated from University College Dublin in 1970 with a BA in Irish, history and philosophy and obtained a Higher Diploma in Education from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1971.
He has worked both as a primary and secondary teacher, and in 1978 helped found a Gaelscoil, Scoil Lán-Ghaeilge Mhic Easmainn, in Tralee.
He has been active in the promotion of Irish and in 2008 was elected as President of the Gaelic League.
[2] He has contributed two poems to the Irish Poetry Reading Archive: 'An Teaghlach Naofa agus Naomh Eoin i dTírdhreach' and 'Eibhlinn'.
[3] He was for decades the editor of the Irish language literary monthly Feasta.