Born: 02 December 1917, Surrey Street, Belfast County Antrim
Entered: 01 October 1940, St Mary's, Emo, County Laois

Left Society of Jesus: 25 September 1941

Father was an electrical welder and mother died in Feb 1940. Family moved to Griffith Avenue. Drumcondra, Dublin

Younger of two boys with three sisters.

Early education was in convent and Christian Brothers Primary schools, at age 12 he went to St Joseph’s CBS Fairview, Dublin. In 1935 he went to O’Connell Schools, and after the Leaving Cert was awarded a scholarship to St Patrick’s Training College, Drumcondra. he was two years there.He then took a job teaching Maths and Irish at O’Connell Schools, and later took a job at St Joseph’s BNS, East Wall, Dublin. At the same time he attended evening lectures at UCD, and got a BA.