[1] She presented and acted in shows on the newly established RTÉ in 1961 and starred in a short entertainment called "The Ballad Singer" produced by Tom McGrath, a program preserved in the station's archives.
[citation needed] Shortly after being made head of light entertainment, Doolan resigned in protest at the political and commercial policies of RTÉ.
[clarification needed] She became artistic director of the Abbey Theatre for two years before studying for her PhD in Anthropology at Queen's University.
[citation needed] She taught at the College of Commerce, Rathmines (now part of the DIT) between 1979 and 1988, where she established and was head of the first Irish course in Media Communications, teaching Bryan Dobson (news anchor), Fergus Tighe (film director), Anne Cassin (newsreader), and Ned O'Hanlon (U2 and Rolling Stones video director) amongst others.
In April 1993 she was appointed chairperson of the Irish Film Board, a role she filled for three years before retiring.