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

Taking the kids medals away Taking the kids medals away
I possess two what I will call here “participation medals.” One, which came down directly to me a couple of generations, was for membership of a re...
April 14, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Spooks target a leading pol Spooks target a leading pol
Top British spy Maurice Oldfield’s obsession with one of the most prominent Irish politicians of the 20th century “can be aptly compared to that of...
April 13, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Bayonne's unique Irish treasure Bayonne's unique Irish treasure
Acclaimed artist Harry Clarke had unfinished business in Bayonne, N.J., at the time of his death on Jan. 6, 1931. Fortunately, the Dubliner left de...
April 06, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Smyrl has been a leader in Irish genealogy for more than 30 years Smyrl has been a leader in Irish genealogy for more than 30 years
Eileen O’Byrne was known sometimes in conversation “to get the wrong end of the stick.” But it was a lucky day for Steven Smyrl that she did the fi...
March 24, 2023 by Peter McDermott
A family at war A family at war
“What a life! What a character!” These were Harry Martin’s thoughts as he listened to Cormac O’Malley speak one evening about his father. That nigh...
March 16, 2023 by Peter McDermott
'The search is all that matters' 'The search is all that matters'
In “Whale,” a story in John McCaffrey’s collection “Automatically Hip,” a high-school student tells the class that his grandfather was a typesetter...
March 08, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Standing up, speaking out Standing up, speaking out
When the members of Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly gathered on July 1, 1998, it wasn’t the DUP or Sinn Féin that challenged the new system f...
March 01, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Patience is key in the classroom Patience is key in the classroom
“We need them.” That’s the most important thing people should know about teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students, according to Siobhan Vuotto...
February 23, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Dad's ghost Dad's ghost
Duke University, 1984. The night was a milestone in the life and career of actor Jared Harris, star of “The Crown, “Mad Men,” “Chernobyl,” “The Ter...
February 16, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Imperial subjects return 'home' Imperial subjects return 'home'
“My father was a civil servant and he had worked for the British civil service until 1920 when the change of government meant he decided he didn’t ...
February 15, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Connors to launch CraicFest 25 Connors to launch CraicFest 25
John Connors will approach his role as MC of the Craic Concert in the spirit of the festival it launches on Friday, Feb. 24. “I’ll improvise and ha...
February 01, 2023 by Peter McDermott
Patrolling the streets of Suffolk Patrolling the streets of Suffolk
Kathleen Murphy had a problem and her father had the solution. The police officer was tapped young for the Suffolk County Police Department. It was...
January 26, 2023 by Peter McDermott

 



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