He was Cathaoirleach (chair) of the Seanad from 1951 to 1954, and from 1957 to 1969, and also served as Leas-Chathaoirleach (deputy chair) from 1954 to 1957.[2]
He lectured through Irish in Commerce and Economics from his appointment as part of the programme for the Gaelicization of Third Level under the 1929 Act. He was author of many textbooks amongst which were "Bunadhas na Tráchtála" (1944), "Bunadhas an Gheileagair", "Cúntais agus Cúntaisíocht" (1954), "Ard-Chúntaisíocht" (1959) and "Forás Teoiricí an Gheilleagair" (1968).
He was the founder of the highly successful "Scoltacha Éigse agus Seanchais" in the Conamara Gaeltacht.
His wife Máire Ní Scolaí was a notable singer of songs in Irish both seannós and common style and also an actress.[1] She created the role of Gráinne in the Taibhdhearc 1928 première of Micheál Mac Liammóir's drama "Diarmuid agus Gráinne".