Margaret Crilley was born in Newry, County Down on 1 August 1884, one of six children of Patrick Crilley.[2] Her date of birth is often given as 29 July 1888, though local records do not support this.[3] Having initially trained at Newry technical school with her sister Mary intending to become a teacher,[3] in 1905 Margaret won a scholarship to attend the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art.[4] There she studied under William Orpen, who regarded her as one of his most promising students.[3] She completed her studies in 1911 attaining an Art Teacher's Certificate, and began working as Orpen's assistant.[2]