A native of Kilskyre, Co. Meath, Brian Ó hUiginn (a.k.a. O’Higgins) became well known in Gaelic League circles as a writer and performer. As well as ridiculing aspects of Irish society on stage, he published many satirical pieces of writing, including articles, poems, and the Irish Fun newspaper, which he founded. Ó hUiginn participated in the Easter Rising and was stationed in the GPO, though his activity was limited due to ill health. He was imprisoned in Stafford jail and Frongoch prison camp, and was again incarcerated in 1918 in relation to the “German plot”. He won the West Clare seat for Sinn Féin in that year’s general election, and was influential in establishing the republican courts in his constituency. An opponent of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, he spent twenty four days on hunger strike whilst interned by the government in 1923-1924. He returned to the Dáil upon his release and held his seat for Sinn Féin until 1927. A staunch critic of the new Irish political establishment, Ó hUiginn continued to write satirical pieces for the rest of his life, whilst also running a greetings card manufacturing firm.
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