Early Life
Skeffington was the only son of Joseph Skeffington and Rose Magorian, of County Down. His parents were married at the Roman Catholic Chapel at Ballykinlar in 1869. Skeffy was educated initially at home by his father, a school inspector, and later by the Jesuits at St Stephen's Green before enrolling in University College Dublin in 1896. His closest companions at college were James Joyce and Thomas Kettle. He was individualistic in disposition and unconventional in temperament, refusing to shave and wore knickerbockers, long socks and, as an ardent proponent of rights for women, he wore a badge that read Votes for Women. He organised a petition to lobby for women to be admitted to UCD on the same basis as men shortly after he married. He was a well-known figure at UCD and active in student politics and debating societies including the Literary and Historical Society, which he became auditor of in 1897.
Read more about this topic: Francis Sheehy-Skeffington
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