Tom Deignan Interviews…

Tom Deignan is a teacher, author, and columnist. Tom has been a contributor to Irish America for 25 years on arts and entertainment, history and current affairs. He is currently working on a book about America during the Ellis Island years.

His writing has appeared in newspapers such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Star-Ledger, and National Catholic Reporter, as well as magazines such as America, Commonweal, Brooklyn Rail, and The Irish Voice.

He is the author of Coming to America: Irish Americans and contributed to books such as Nine Irish Lives: The Fighters, Thinkers, and Artists Who Helped Build America, and The Irish American Chronicle.

In the height of the pandemic Tom switched up his interviews with writers and news makers to create face to face interviews to share with Irish America readers through Zoom. We hope you enjoy the interviews and will share your ideas with us in the comments section of other people within the Irish America community that you would be interested in learning about.

Tom interviews James Nesbitt about his new Irish crime drama Bloodlands. In this March 2021 interview, Tom and Jimmy speak about the show, Ireland, and why Jimmy loves where he comes from.

Tom interviews author and New York Times Columnist Timothy Egan about his most recent book Pilgrimage to Eternity. In this September 2020 interview, Tom and Tim speak about Catholicism, history, and COVID-19.

Tom interviews author and historian James Carroll about his most recent book about the crisis in the Catholic Church, The Truth at the Heart of the Lie.

Tom interviews Des Bishop, born in New York but went off to Ireland at the tender of age of 14. But what began as a kind of lark to make sure Bishop stayed focused on school turned into a calling as a popular comedian, performer, and TV personality.

Tom interviews 25th Amendment author and Fordham University Law Professor John Feerick. In this January 2021 interview, Professor Feerick helps us to understand the 25th Amendment.

Tom interviews author Emma Donoghue about her new book The Pull of the Stars. In this July 2020 interview, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Tom and Emma talk about how the book closely relates to the time we are currently in.