After a brief stint in Dublin and London civil service, where he indulged his passion for amateur dramatics under the pseudonym F.J. McCormick, he joined the esteemed Abbey Theatre company in 1918, commencing a 30-year tenure that would see him take to the stage over 500 times.
During this period, he earned widespread acclaim for his masterful portrayals of works by the renowned Sean O'Casey, notably bringing to life the iconic characters of Joxer in Juno and the Paycock and Fluther Good in The Plough and the Stars. Regarded by many as the greatest and most versatile Irish actor of his generation, he remained deeply committed to the Abbey Theatre and the young Irish state.
