Mary is currently Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin. She holds a Doctorate and Licentiate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University Rome and a Master’s Degree in Canon Law from the National University of Ireland (Milltown Institute).
Mary graduated in Law from the Queen’s University of Belfast in 1973 and was called to the bar of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland and the King's Inns Dublin. In 1975, she was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin and in 1987, she returned to her Alma Mater to become Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. In 1994, she became the first female Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Queen’s University of Belfast. She served as President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011.
Mary’s recent television programmes include: With God on our Side (RTÉ, 2021), All Walks of Life (RTÉ, 2021, 2020), Mary McAleese’s Modern Family (RTÉ, 2018), Mná na Glinntí (BBC, 2018), Mary McAleese and The Man Who Saved Europe / Mary McAleese & An Chéad Eorpach (BBC, RTÉ, 2015), Cumann na mBann (TG4, 2015).