 He was appointed the Bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe by the Holy See on 12 February 1982.His episcopal consecration took place at St Eunan's Cathedral in Letterkenny on 28 March 1982, the principal consecrator was Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, and the principal co-consecrators were Gaetano Alibrandi, titular Archbishop of Binda, and Edward Daly, Bishop of Derry.. A brusque man with an abrupt air about him and small of stature, he was described by one Maynooth College professor as a "cross between Mussolini and the Child of Prague.