Tranlsations
Hugh is the patriarch of the town of Baile Biag. He represents the classic Irishman who is a descendant of a very old race. Not only is the Irish language rich and sacred, Hugh provides the link to the ancient Greek and Latin Languages. As the head of the hedge school for the last 30 years, all of the characters seek his knowledge as the master. Hugh is an imposing man. He is large but is not well dressed. At the beginning of the play, he is on the verge of being drunk. “He has, as always, a large quantity of drink taken, but he is by no means drunk. He is in his early sixties”, by the last act he is drunk but able to function. “There is a portion of his mind which retains clarity”. (p84) In Act 1, Hugh encounters Captain Lancey of the Royal Engineers.