In 1841 Cardinal Cullen invited the Congregation of Christian Brothers to start a school for boys in Armagh.

Some medical doctors complained to Cardinal Cullen that he discouraged people from going to the doctor, a claim later retracted.

Patterns were a common part of Irish rural tradition until the reforms of Cardinal Cullen from the 1850s.

Cardinal Cullen had previously forbidden Catholics from attending these "godless colleges".

Cardinal Cullen was against the idea of educating lay and clerical students on the same premises.

This ran counter to the Ultramontane policy adopted by Cardinal Cullen since the 1850s, which included total obedience to papal decrees.

In 1870 succeeded Cardinal Cullen as rector of the college.

During the Vatican Council, Cardinal Cullen took an active part in its deliberations.

Verdon's uncle and mentor, Cardinal Cullen had insisted on complete loyalty to Rome, the pope and the magisterium.

He was succeeded by a young priest, later Cardinal Cullen.