He spent much of his life in education. Initially he was appointed to the teaching staff of St Malachy's College, his alma mater, before beginning his twenty four years in teacher training. He taught first at St Mary's Teacher Training College (1963–69), and was then appointed as Principal of St Joseph's Teacher Training College. He was a staunch defender of the principles of Catholic education, when there were proposals to move towards a unitary system for teacher training. His work also involved the amalgamation of St Mary's and St Joseph's in 1985 and became principal of the new joined college.