She began her career working as a folk singer before training as a classical soprano at the Dublin College of Music.
She made her professional debut at the Irish National Opera in La Cenerentola.
Repertoire she performed with the WNO includes Alice Ford in Falstaff, Elvira in Ernani and the title roles in Lucia di Lammermoor and Norma.
She sang this latter role again in 1989 at both La Scala and the New York City Opera (NYCO).
She performed the roles of both Amelia in Un ballo in maschera and Bellini's Norma with both the NYCO and the Bavarian State Opera.