Originally a farmer, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election on 29 October 1947 in the Tipperary constituency, following the death of the sitting Clann na Talmhan Teachta Dála (TD), William O'Donnell.
Originally a farmer, he was first elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election on October 29, 1947 in the Tipperary constituency, succeeding the deceased Clann na Talmhan Teachta Dála (TD), William O'Donnell.