Born at Firies, near Farranfore, Co Kerry, on April 23rd 1927, but lived at Adare, Co Limerick from the age of five. His father was creamery manager there. Attended St Munchin's Limerick, before entering St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1944.

Ordained for the diocese of Limerick in 1951. He served for four years as a curate in the parish of Corbally and Monalee in Limerick, while also teaching in the local vocational school. Four years later he was moved to the cathedral parish in Limerick city. Some time afterwards he was asked to work with Irish emigrants in London. He went to Slough.

In the early 1960s he became involved in organising housing schemes for the homeless Irish in London. Cardinal Heenan, then the Archbishop of Westminster, asked him to set up a nationwide organisation to do similar work. It lead to the creation of Shelter, a non-denominational agency which housed the homeless.

In 1969 he was appointed Bishop of Kerry. At 42 he was Ireland's youngest bishop.

April 1973 he collected Annie Murphy at Shannon airport.

July 31st, 1974, Peter Murphy was born.

July 1976, he became Bishop of Galway.

May 1992, he left Ireland.