Fintan O'Toole

Fintan O'Toole (born 1958) is a columnist, assistant editor, and drama critic for The Irish Times. He has written for the paper since 1988 and was drama critic for the New York Daily News from 1997 to 2001. He is an author, literary critic, historical writer, and political commentator, with generally left-wing views. His recent books have focused on the rise, fall & aftermath of Ireland's 'Celtic Tiger'. He has been a strong critic of political corruption in Ireland throughout his career.

O'Toole was born in Dublin grew up in a working class family and was educated at University College Dublin.

In 2011, he was named one of "Britain's top 300 intellectuals" by The Observer, despite not being British.

During Spring 2012, O'Toole was a Visiting Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University and contributed to the Fund for Irish Studies Series.