This is an account of the life and career of P.A. McHugh, MP for Leitrim North and Sligo North from 1892 until his death. Before his election to parliament, McHugh was a well-known figure in Sligo. He owned and edited "The Sligo Champion" and was also very involved in local politics, serving several terms as Mayor of the town. As a newspaper editor in an increasingly literate society, and as an influential local politician, McHugh played a prominent role. Like other nationalist newspaper editors of the time, McHugh fell foul of the "coercion" laws and he served several prison terms for his activities.