Born in Cappamore, Co. Limerick, youth spent on a farm made him very familiar with the everyday activities of farm work, for example hay-saving, hand milking of cows, turf cutting and saving. These activities regularly appear in his paintings.

Scholarship to the Dublin College of Music and Dublin Feis Ceoil success led him into the sister art of painting. He has exhibited all over Ireland and the U.S.A. and his paintings hang in public and private collections world-wide.