1864) before being appointed chaplain and private secretary to his uncle, the Bishop of Tuam, in 1857, a post he held for seven years.

In 1876, Lord Plunket (as he became on succeeding his father in 1871) was consecrated Bishop of Meath, and in 1884 he was finally appointed Archbishop of Dublin, an office he held until his death.

In 1871 he inherited Old Connaught and decided to move into the house and surrounding property as he had spent a lot of time there with his grandfather.

He was instrumental in developing the Kildare Place Schools (the Church of Ireland teacher training college),[3] and he was an advocate and supporter of the reformed faith in Spain, Portugal and Italy.

[4] His wife having predeceased him in 1889, Lord Plunket died aged 68 in Dublin, and he was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.