An author, writer, poet, publisher and spokesman, John Francis O’Brien, Jr. is Co-Founder, Publisher and Editor of the Ohio Irish American News, which premiered in January 2007. John is a United Irish Societies Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Honoree and was named as one of Irish America Magazine’s Top 100 Irish Americans. The Irish Echo awarded John their 2019 Community Champion Award. His poem, The Vacant Chair, was awarded 1st Prize in the Irish Book, Art & Music Showcase. The Ohio Irish American News is a monthly newsmagazine that covers news and events of interest to the more than 1.6 million people of Irish descent living in Ohio. Twenty-three columnists bring the movers, shakers & music makers to the now shiny bright rust belt Irish each month. It is available at over 367 locations in Ohio and six surrounding states. John is a founder and served as Deputy Director of Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival for thirty-six years; the festival has given more than $1 million to local and national charities since its 1982 inception. This is John's 5th book.
