Margaret McCarthy's poetry has appeared in a variety of literary magazines, journals and anthlogies including: The Pagan Muse: Poems of Ritual and Inspiration,  Working Papers in Irish Studies, Poetry New Zealand,  California State Poetry Society Quarterly, O!!ZONE,  Xanadu,  Caprice , Matrix,  The Poet,  Poets and Peace International,  Voices International,  Encore, Visions of the Enchanted Spirit, Nit & Wit Literary Magazine and The New Earth Review.  McCarthy has also reviewed for Groundswell Magazine, New Directions for Women and The Chiron Review.

She has completed a cycle of poems and is at work on a stageplay based on Deirdre, the heroine of Irish myth.

She is a member of PEN USA and The Dramatists Guild of America.

Her first stage play,  The Sacrificial King: A Play for John Lennon was given a New York City production by The World 3 Theatre Company.  Prior to that, it was given staged readings at The English Speaking Union in New York City and at Duke University, N.C.

McCarthy has read her poetry at a variety of venues in the New York area, including WNYC FM's "Poetry in the Morning". She has been a guest at The Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, The Ragdale Foundation and The Hambidge Center, all of which have awarded her writing fellowships.  She works as a professional photographer in New York City; her landscape photographs and images based on Celtic myth have been widely exhibited.