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

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
Fox News censors pontiff's views Fox News censors pontiff's views
Last Thursday afternoon, the lead story in the most reputable news sources online was the war on science and scientists being waged by the nation’s...
September 04, 2025 by Peter McDermott
The dystopia is in your inbox The dystopia is in your inbox
Every Saturday morning, CNN sends out an email containing what it calls “5 Good Things.” There's clearly a need for this when you consider some of ...
August 20, 2025 by Peter McDermott
2025's top four tipped again 2025's top four tipped again
This time last year people were hesitant about betting against Pep Guardiola. It had been seven years since the name of any club other than his Man...
August 14, 2025 by Peter McDermott
2 phone calls changed history 2 phone calls changed history
Governor Nelson Rockefeller preached Sunday sermons at four Black churches in Brooklyn on Oct. 23, 1960. Historian Taylor Branch said the governor ...
August 07, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Vermeers spend time at the Frick Vermeers spend time at the Frick
“I know how difficult it is. Everyone wants your Vermeer.” So said Axel Rüger, the director of the Frick Collection, when thanking the National Gal...
July 30, 2025 by Peter McDermott
'A really discouraging time' 'A really discouraging time'
We hear the term “trickle-down” often. But “downstream” might be particularly apt for any discussion around the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. New Yor...
July 24, 2025 by Peter McDermott
Novelist in search of an identity Novelist in search of an identity
“This Side of Paradise’ unfurled like a banner over an entire age." So wrote A. Scott Berg in his biography “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius.” Its mo...
July 17, 2025 by Peter McDermott
'Are you going for a jar?' 'Are you going for a jar?'
The proprietor of O’Shaughnessy’s of Glin, Co. Limerick, aka the Ivy House, likely never said, “Have you no homes to go to?” He must’ve known that ...
July 10, 2025 by Peter McDermott



 



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