 A natural defect in his right hand was a canonical obstacle to his ordination into the church.He continued to teach, and write and be published on a variety of subjects, and also lecture publicly.Famed as a preacher he was invited to lecture speak and many occasions, such as a guest speaker at the laying of the foundation stone of the new chapel in Maynooth College, he also lectured at St. Patrick's Teacher Training College, Drumcondra, on English Literature

He died on 21 May 1903, in the nursing care of St. John of Gods Brothers in Stillorgan in Dublin, and is buried in All Hallows College Cemetery.