Her recent opera engagements include Gretel Hänsel und Gretel at the Royal Opera House, Tigrane Radamisto for English National Opera, Papagena Die Zauberflöte at La Scala, Despina Così fan tutte at the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, and Héro Béatrice et Bénédict for Houston Grand Opera, Opéra Comique and the Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg. Other operatic highlights include Sophie Der Rosenkavalier, Nannetta Falstaff and Atalanta Xerxes for the Royal Swedish Opera, Marzelline Fidelio at Covent Garden under Antonio Pappano, Miss Wordsworth Albert Herring for Opéra Comique and Opéra de Rouen, and Vixen The Cunning Little Vixen for Grange Park Opera.

A prolific concert and recording artist, Ailish works frequently with British and international orchestras. Last season she sang Gliere’s Concerto for Coloratura Soprano with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under Kirill Karabits at the BBC Proms, Verdi Requiem at the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele under Michael Hofstetter and Martin's Golgotha under Stephen Cleobury at King’s College Cambridge. Other highlights include the opening night of the BBC Proms in 2009 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Jirí Belohlávek, Haydn The Creation with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons, The Seasons in Madrid with Harry Christophers; Haydn Nelson Mass with the RTÉ under Douglas Boyd, Vaughan Williams Hodie at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; and Mahler Symphony No.2 with Philharmonia Orchestra under Jac van Steen.

Her latest discography includes An Irish Songbook with pianist Iain Burnside for Signum Classics, Gluck arias with the Classical Opera Company for Wigmore Hall Live, Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music and the King’s College Choir, Cambridge for EMI, Mahler Symphony No.8 with the LSO under Valery Gergiev, Herbert Hughes songs for Signum and Muriel Herbert songs for Linn Records. She also finished recording Fauré songs with Iain Burnside and Poulenc songs with Graham Johnson. In recitals, Ailish works regularly with Iain Burnside, Malcolm Martineau, Graham Johnson, Julius Drake, Roger Vignoles, Chris Glynn and Barry Douglas, giving recitals extensively including the Wigmore Hall, Edinburgh, City of London, Cheltenham and West Cork Music Festivals.

Engagements in 2011/12 season include Gretel for Scottish Opera and Madame Cortese Il viaggio a Reims at the Royal Opera House, Mahler Symphony No.8 with the Philharmonia under Lorin Maazel and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Sir Antonio Pappano, a Haydn concert with András Schiff and various recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Carmina Burana with the RTÉ and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, New Year concerts with the Manchester Camerata and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Brahms Requiem with the Ulster Orchestra and return to the Three Choirs Festival.