Born in Dublin, Alison made her first record for Simon Napier Bell and David Hemmings at the age of 15 with the cult folk-rock band, Mellow Candle. The band played concerts with Genesis, Thin Lizzy, Donovan, The Chieftains and Steeleye Span amongst others. They signed to Decca's Deram label in the early 1970s and gigged in Ireland and the U.K.

Alison then moved to Johannesburg and together with the guitarist from Mellow Candle they formed traditional group Flibbertigibbet. The band recorded an album on the Stanyan label and worked on national television and radio. When band members moved on she freelanced on recordings for local singer/songwriters and television and commercial radio session work for advertising agencies. She also duetted with solo artistes and was invited to write occasional record reviews. During the early 1980s, together with a troupe of well-known actors and musicians, she helped to stage and perform a series of popular satirical revues. She toured with the musical 'I'm getting my act together and taking it on the road', performed with a number of jazz and rock bands and recorded an album for writer/producer (Daydreamer), Terry Dempsey's band, Plastik Mak. After this period she assisted in the running of a Johannesburg club venue, which gave a platform to anti-apartheid performers, where she also performed from time to time.

In the mid 1980s Alison joined a contemporary jazz group called Earthlings and co-wrote all the band's material with the other members. She then returned to London and spent a number of years in public sector administration whilst also acting as a promoter and publicist for the re-release and reissue of some of her earlier recordings. In the latter part of 1997 she moved to Brussels, working with jazz and folk musicians and performing in pantomime in a leading role. She also recorded and choreographed the main principals' solo songs for the January 1998 pantomime, 'Sleeping Beauty', and acted as voice coach for the following two annual productions. During 1998 she set up the traditional-style band Éishtlinn, incorporating her own songs, together with local musicians. Between 2000 and 2001 she regularly taught singing workshops.

Alison moved back to Dublin in 2001. She sings and plays bodhrán in sessions, festivals, gigs and charity events, and collaborates with other artistes. She is a member of singer/songwriter, Michele Ann Kelly's band, and the traditional singing clubs: The Goilín Singers Club and the Howth Singing Circle. Alison developed an interest in genealogy in 1996, working extensively on tracing her family tree. She has finished writing a book to follow on from a documentary about her grandmother, filmed by the BBC in 2004, and has completed an album of original songs and tunes with Isabel Ní Chuireáin.