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, served as a journalist, and had significant influence 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.