Mary Duffy went to art school and university before qualifying as a teacher. She has a Master's degree in Equalities Studies and received an honorary doctorate of Laws by the National University of Ireland in recognition of her work for disability art. She has as a teacher, actress, painter, poet, radio producer, researcher and documentary director for RTE as well as an artist-in-residence in prisons. She is engaged with different civil rights movements and has created an equality training project for the E.U. Her performances revolve around her childhood memories. In her work, she addresses the struggle of disabled people to become independent and valued members of society.
