After moving to the United States to work in theater in the 1960s, she met and married Dr. Garrett O'Connor, the cousin of actor Carroll O'Connor.
Daughter of a veteran Irish nationalist who also fought in the Spanish Civil War.
Eldest of five children.
In her youth, she was a favorite to play James Joyce's controversial Molly Bloom, a character that created quite a sexual stir on stage in New York.
Maintains homes in both Southern California and Dublin.
Nominated for Broadway's 1974 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "Ulysses in Nighttown".
She has recorded all three of Maeve Binchy's three novels, Circle of Friends, The Copper Beech and The Glass Lake as well as two collections of short stories for Bantam Doubleday Books-on-Tape.
Studied languages in Switzerland at the Universite de Fribourg and worked as an interpreter and translator in Italy.
Was educated at Scoil Mhuire Marlborough Street, at Sandymount High School and at Scoil Caitriona, Dominican College.