He eloped and married in Bristol on St. Valentine's Day, 1966 and settled there and about this period started writing songs. After the outbreak of the Troubles in Northern Ireland he joined Clann na hÉireann, the British wing of Official Sinn Féin. He was deported under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1975 and settled back in Dublin. He has been active in politics there on behalf of the Workers Party.