His indomitable perseverance and his thirst for knowledge overcame the formidable obstacles of fortune, and at thirty years of age the poor peasant boy had become a barrister of reputation for ability and fearlessness.

He returned to his native county to become the most popular and trusted of its "counsellors"-- the advocate who did not fear to face and beard Influence and Ascendancy in its courts.

The city of Cashel had had much of its property alienated and long enjoyed by local magnates whom none were willing to offend.

Doheny fought and defeated them and regained the purloined estates for the people.

He was made Legal Adviser to the Borough of Cashel and when later the pestilence fell upon the place, and even the men employed to carry the sick to hospital lost courage and fled, Doheny showed the same manly example of citizenship and duty which years later forced him "on the Felon's path," by carrying in his strong arms to shelter and relief the deserted victims of the plague.