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

From the Moth to the Rep From the Moth to the Rep
For Mary Kate O’Flanagan, it’s always about the story. For one thing, she works as a writer and script doctor in television and film. It was anothe...
February 19, 2026 by Peter McDermott
'Music saved my life' 'Music saved my life'
“It’s a lovely day. A pity about the weather.” Kevin Sharkey tries always to bring his mother’s spirit and attitude to his life and work even when,...
February 13, 2026 by Peter McDermott
American democracy's fair-weather friends American democracy's fair-weather friends
The historian John Lukacs was no leftist. Indeed, he labeled himself a “reactionary” and his positions, if sometimes heterodox, were reliably right...
February 06, 2026 by Peter McDermott
Only Nevers made sense on right Only Nevers made sense on right
This column was published in the Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 2025, edition of the Irish Echo. The word “Never” being used before someone’s name is a practice t...
February 06, 2026 by Peter McDermott
CIFF announces 2026 program CIFF announces 2026 program
“The biggest challenge in this job is the amount of work that is coming out of Ireland.” So said Maedhbh McCullagh, the director of the Capital Iri...
February 06, 2026 by Peter McDermott
Muldoon, Vega & friends honor poet John Berryman at 92NY Muldoon, Vega & friends honor poet John Berryman at 92NY
John Berryman was one of the great poets of the 20th century. And, according to Paul Muldoon, great poets “are lucky if they’re recognized while th...
January 21, 2026 by Peter McDermott
How the Irish became American How the Irish became American
Matthew Jude Barker has been familiar with the past for a long time now. “I started tracing my family history in 1981, at age 8,” said the genealog...
January 08, 2026 by Peter McDermott
Fishermen die, kingpins walk Fishermen die, kingpins walk
Liz Oyer has a great job title on her resume: the pardon attorney. She was appointed to that position in 2022 and her U.S. Justice Department bio r...
December 30, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Islander artist Islander artist
Don’t call it a retrospective. Yes, the title of the exhibition that will run at the Noble Maritime Collection through Jan. 18 is “Bill Murphy: Wat...
December 11, 2025 by Peter McDermott
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





 



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