He completed his bachelor and master degrees in UCD before studying for his PhD in Southern Illinois University. He worked for a number of years with AONTAS, the National Association of Adult Education before rejoining UCD in 1991. He has written extensively on contemporary Irish culture and society. His books include Moral Monopoly: The Rise and Fall of the Catholic Church in Modern Ireland, Lessons in Irish Sexuality and Truth, Power and Lies: Irish Society and the Case of the Kerry Babies.