She attended the Central School of Dramatic Art at the Royal Albert Hall, London for 3 years, attaining minor stage and film roles.
[1] In 1947, Horan was diagnosed with a cyst on her spine, leading to her being hospitalised for two years at the National Hospital, Queen's Square, London.
She spent a year at Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, England, before returning to Ireland, where she was practically living in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
[1] In the mid-1950s sport became a common rehabilitation therapy for people with spinal injuries, as it was effective in preventing blood and skin issues brought on by long periods of immobilisation.
[1][2] At the 1960 Rome Paralympics, Horan competed in the St Nicholas round of open women's archery, winning the gold medal.
[4] After the games, she attended an audience with Pope John XXIII and the Irish team travelled to Lourdes for three days before returning to Dublin.