On her return to Ireland, when she started to perform in public, she was noticed by Dutch musician and producer Erik Visser.

[2][1] Visser, whose band Flairck was popular in Europe, helped Coughlan record her first album, Tired and Emotional.

On Under the Influence (1987) she sang the 1948 Peggy Lee hit "Don't Smoke in Bed" and the Billie Holiday ballad "Good Morning Heartache", as well as Jimmy McCarthy's "Ride On", which reached number 5 on the Irish pop charts in 1987.

[2] It included compositions by Mark Nevin and cover versions of the Rolling Stones' "Mother's Little Helper" and Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel.

In 2018, Coughlan collaborated with the Brokentalkers[5] and Valgeir Sigurðsson,[6] to create Woman Undone, a fusion of theatre, music and dance to re-imagine her life and childhood.

It tells the story of a young woman who endured abuse, addiction and mental illness and whose discovery of art and music was her redemption.

Woman Undone was nominated in two categories for the Irish Times Theatre Awards:[7] Best Sound for Mary Coughlan, Mongoose and Valgeir Sigurðsson; Best Movement: Eddie Kay.

[11] In 2020, Mary received a lifetime achievement award by the Mayor of Galway in recognition of her impact on the cultural life of the city.