Accordion player Martin McHugh helped sustain and revive traditional music in Minnesota across seven decades. Born in Cloondahara, County Roscommon, he grew up on a farm in a musical family, teaching himself tunes on a shared melodeon. After emigrating to St. Paul in 1949, McHugh became part of a small but vibrant music scene, playing at Twin City Irish American Club events with fellow immigrants Mike McGivney and Patrick Hill as well as Minnesota-born musicians, Mike Nash and Mike Hughes. As older musicians faded from the community in the 1960s, McHugh remained a steadfast presence, at times nearly alone in preserving the tradition. When a revival began in the 1970s, he became a key mentor and cultural link for generations of players. He anchored the Northern Star Céilí Band and many other groups and was a steadfast presence at local sessions into his 90s. McHugh maintained strong ties to Roscommon and spent summers there in his later years. He was known for his humor, storytelling and distinctive C#/D playing style which included many unusual settings of tunes. He left a lasting legacy as both a cultural bridge and a beloved figure in the Twin Cities Irish music community.