She was the eldest child of Michael McHugh and Elizabeth O’Dowd. Her father had been a participant in the Easter Rising as well as a journalist and was very influential upon her. She was educated at Jesus and Mary College in Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, County Mayo on a scholarship before moving to University College Galway.
She was the eldest child of Michael McHugh and Elizabeth O’Dowd. Her father participated in the Easter Rising and had an impact on her; she received her education at Jesus and Mary College in Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, County Mayo through a scholarship before moving to University College Galway.