She was the first Irish female diplomat appointed to represent Ireland abroad in a ministerial capacity.

Scoil Íde had been established by her friend, Louise Gavan Duffy, the female counterpart to St. Enda's School.

Despite her reservations, McNeill became a noted hostess, both in London and later in Dublin when her husband became the Governor-General of the Irish Free State from 1928 to 1932.

[1] After the death of her husband in 1938, McNeill became the honorary secretary of the council of the Friends of the National Collections, as well as serving as chair of the executive committee of the Irish Countrywomen's Association until 1950.

[4] She was appointed the minister to the Netherlands in 1950 by Seán MacBride, making her the first Irish female diplomat to represent the Republic of Ireland abroad in a ministerial capacity.