Irish columnist, editor, literary critic, political commentator and author of more than twenty books. O'Toole was a theater critic for the New York Daily News (1997-2001) and is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books. In 2011 he was named by The Observer as one of the "300 most important intellectuals in Britain". In 2012 and 2013, O'Toole was a visiting professor in Irish Literature at Princeton University. He became drama critic for In Dublin magazine in 1980. He joined the Sunday Tribune in its relaunch by Vincent Browne in 1983 and worked as a drama critic, literary editor, arts editor and feature film writer. In 1986 he edited the magazine Magill. He joined The Irish Times as a columnist in 1988, where he has published twice a week ever since. After a sabbatical to work as a literary adviser to the Abbey theatre, in 1994 he was one of the presenters of the final season of BBC TV's The Late Show. From 1997 to 2001 he was a drama critic for the Daily News. In 2011 he was appointed literary editor of The Irish Times. Throughout his prolific career, O'Toole has been highly critical of political corruption in Ireland, negative attitudes towards immigration, the state of public services or growing inequality during the country's economic boom.