Educated by the Jesuits at Clongowes Wood College, he was primarily interested in poetry and literature, played the lead in school theatricals and was regarded as the best speaker in the school's debating society.
Han blev uddannet ved jesuitterkollegiet Clongowes Wood, og var primært interesseret i litteratur og poesi, spillede hovedrollerne ved skoleteatrene og blev betragtet som skolens bedste taler i de debatterende foreninger.