he was appointed coadjutor bishop of raphoe and titular bishop of geras by the holy see on 18 february 1856 and consecrated to the episcopate on 18 may 1856. the principal consecrator was archbishop joseph dixon of armagh. on the death of patrick mcgettigan, he succeeded as diocesan bishop of raphoe on 1 may 1860. he translated to the archdiocese of armagh by the holy see on 6 march 1870.