When Fr. Seán Ó’Dea resigned from his position as member of the governing body of Galway University, Edward was chosen by Clare County Council as its representative on that body. A few years later he was the Government appointee to the Board of Governors of Cork University. It was unfortunate for Edward that Cork University Board was riven by two factions, one led by President Merriman, the other by the Registrar, Alfred O’Rahilly. Edward took a neutral stance, which meant that any change he wished to bring about was stymied by the intractability of both sides. In those years he had returned to academic life and was writing a thesis on his ancestry, ‘A Short Study of a Transplanted Family’ under the tutelage of Professor James Hogan. This was followed by his treatise on the Cromwellian Occupation in Ireland, which he published as ‘Irish Life in the Seventeenth Century’. This work received much acclaim for its excellent research and for which he received a Doctor of Literature some years later.

Nuair a d’éirigh an t-Athair Seán Ó Deá as bhallraíocht Bhord Stiúrtha Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, ceapadh Éamonn ina ionad. Cúpla blain ina dhiaidh sin d’iarr an Rialtas air dul ar Bhord Stiúrtha Ollscoil Chorcaí chun feabhas a chur ar chúrsaí Gaeilge ansin. Níor éirigh leis mórán dul chun chinn a dhéanamh mar bhí údaráis an Choláiste; an tUachtarán Merriman agus an Claraitheoir Alfred O Rahilly go binibeach in aghaidh a chéle. D’fhan Éamonn neamhspleach ar an aighneas. Sna na blianta sin a thosnaigh sé ar thrachtas a chur le chéile i dtaobh a shinsir, A Short Study of a Transplanted Family faoi stiúir an Ollamh le Stair, James Hogan. Lean sé le saothar mór staire Irish Life in the Seventeenth Century. Thuill an leabhar seo cáil mhór dó i measc staraithe agus bronnadh D. Litt. air dá bharr