Peter McDermott

Peter McDermott joined the Irish Echo’s full-time editorial staff in 2004. Before that he was a frequent contributor to the Echo and to Newsday, and he has written also for a variety of publications in Ireland, including the Irish Times, the Sunday Press and the Irish Examiner. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from University College Dublin.

Latest Stories

2021 race showed what ranked-choice voting can do
Opinion
2021 race showed what ranked-choice voting can do
“Ranked Choice Voting gives a strong voice to all voters in our elections, and ensures candidates with the broadest support get to govern.” So says...
December 05, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Is it real or is it magic talking? Is it real or is it magic talking?
In the “Acknowledgements” section of her latest book, Lucy McDiarmid reveals she loved showing her students “what a social occasion a poetry readin...
December 03, 2025 by Peter McDermott
'Ever surprising, compelling' stories from Chicago 'Ever surprising, compelling' stories from Chicago
Margaret never took to being called “Marge,” hating, she says, “Americans’ lazy habit of ‘nicknames.’” Nor did she much like her U.S.-born husband’...
November 20, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Through history's lens Through history's lens
Richard Drew of the Pasadena Star-News was the youngest and least experienced of the four working photographers present when Robert Kennedy was sho...
November 19, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Recalling a 'strong connection' Recalling a 'strong connection'
Paul Muldoon was driving along a Manhattan street one Saturday morning years ago when a yellow cab pulled out in front of him. “Very abruptly, the ...
November 13, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Presidential views Presidential views
For Dr. Janet L. Walsh, attention to detail is key. She learned that during the earliest days of her career, for instance at a loading dock in her ...
October 30, 2025 by Peter McDermott
A passion for history A passion for history
Dr. Elizabeth Stack is reading, writing and researching. She’s teaching again, too, having been appointed as remote, part-time education director o...
October 17, 2025 by Peter McDermott
A nation mourns its heroes A nation mourns its heroes
On an autumn Monday evening in 1978, the Zambian soccer national team were awed by a display of technical brilliance from one of the greatest legen...
October 08, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Prelates criticized over post-assassination comments Prelates criticized over post-assassination comments
“God help us, if the United States stopped existing, because everything stops existing eventually, my church would not. But what frightens me about...
October 01, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Bashing democracy’s defenders Bashing democracy’s defenders
An Irish priest discovered recently that over 40 years ago he’d become a likely target for assassination. Inspired by liberation theology and also ...
September 24, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Week of most glorious mayhem Week of most glorious mayhem
The staff of the Old Stand in Dublin recognized the two Americans who walked into the bar one afternoon in July 1972. One visitor had been a regula...
September 19, 2025 by Peter McDermott
The news on health is not good The news on health is not good
The Commonwealth Fund approached its 20th presidential election in 2024 with a note of optimism. Although it has long known that much is not well w...
September 11, 2025 by Peter McDermott



 



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