A community worker, she was chairperson of the Strategic Policy Committee (Planning) of Westmeath County Council and Westmeath County Heritage Forum, and a member of Westmeath VEC. She was also a member of the governing body of Athlone Institute of Technology and chairperson of the Board of Management of Athlone Community College.
She obtained a Legal Studies Diploma from Athlone IT, was a medical secretary for nine years, and was also a former employee of Electric Ireland.
She was first elected to Athlone Town Council in 1999, topping the poll. In July 2003 she was co-opted onto Westmeath County Council when her father, Brendan McFadden, retired.
McFadden unsuccessfully contested the 2007 general election in the Longford–Westmeath constituency where she received over 5,000 first preferences.[2] She was elected to the Seanad in July 2007.