[13] Waters is a fortnightly contributor to the American journal First Things and is a Permanent Research Fellow at the Center for Ethics and Culture, University of Notre Dame.

[22] In August 2021, John Waters and Gemma O'Doherty launched a freesheet newspaper titled The Irish Light, largely consisting of anti-vaccine propaganda and other conspiracy theories.

[27][28] In 2015, he became involved with First Families First in calling for a 'No' vote in the referendum for the Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015.

[13] Waters ran under the banner of Gemma O'Doherty's far-right group, "Anti-Corruption Ireland", in the 2020 Irish general election, in the Dún Laoghaire constituency.

[32] Up to 100 supporters of the applicants gathered in the Round Hall of the Four Courts but were not permitted to enter the courtroom because of social distancing rules introduced because of COVID-19.

[32] The following day, Gardaí announced that there was an investigation into the large gathering at the Four Courts,[33] stating that they had asked the group to disperse because of concerns with adherence to guidelines on social distancing and non-essential travel.

[35] In her submission to the court O'Doherty said that the COVID-19 conditions were comparable to living in "Nazi Germany" and that the basis for introducing the restrictions was "scientifically fraudulent" and that evidence to that effect would be presented at the full hearing of their action.

[39] On 5 July 2022 the Supreme Court upheld the decision to dismiss the challenge brought by him and Gemma O'Doherty against the constitutionality of laws introduced in response to COVID-19.

[44] In the Irish National Final on 5 March 2010, the song was performed by Leanne Moore, the winner of You're a Star 2008, and finished in fourth place.

[46] Sunday Tribune journalist Una Mullally replied that if Waters felt disconnected or out of place at the Electric Picnic, that it was because the country had changed, and continued "perhaps this is the first Irish generation who have purposely opted out of tormenting themselves by searching for some unattainable greater meaning and who have chosen instead just to live".

[49] Parish records revealed that his great-granduncle, also called John Waters, died of starvation during the Great Famine.

[54] Of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the acceptance of the Good Friday Agreement by Sinn Féin, Waters has written, "After thirty years of conflict and more than 3,000 deaths, the Provos had achieved nothing more than had been on the table at the beginning.

"[55] On 11 January 2014, Waters was mentioned by Irish drag queen Panti (Rory O'Neill) on RTÉ's The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor while discussing homophobia.

[59] On 25 January episode of The Saturday Night Show, O'Connor issued a public apology to those named on behalf of RTÉ for being mentioned in the interview held two weeks previously.

[69][70] In February 2014,[71] Waters' implicated fellow Irish Times journalist Patsy McGarry as the author of a handful of ad hominem Tweets, written anonymously.

[18][19] In April 2014, Waters replied when asked if he had become depressed because of the reaction to his actions over RTÉ and Rory O'Neill: "There's no such thing.

"[72] He was criticised by many, including Paul Kelly, founder of the suicide prevention charity Console, guidance councillor Eamon Keane, journalist Suzanne Harrington (whose late husband suffered from depression), gay rights activist Panti, charity campaigner Majella O'Donnell as well as online commenters.

[73][74][75][76] His former partner Sinéad O'Connor expressed concern for Waters, saying that she thought he was suffering from depression and needed to admit it.

[77] Waters devoted much of his column space in The Irish Times to discussing the role and importance of religion and faith in society.

[78] In a 2009 article titled "Another no to Lisbon might shock FF back to its senses" Waters voiced his opposition to gay marriage stating that it was "potentially destructive of the very fabric of Irish society".

[80] Waters was involved with a group opposing the referendum called First Families First, along with Kathy Sinnott and Gerry Fahey.

[82] He also said "Not just the gay, LGBT lobby, but virtually the entire journalistic fraternity turned on me and tried to basically peck me to death".

[83] Waters compared the activists that attacked him to the Black and Tans, saying "I would prefer them to the people I met last year in the campaign.

[13] In his Hot Press radio column he had relied on stock images of rural life, but the book was an attempt to make amends.

[13] He no longer wrote for a mostly Irish audience, but for one centred on the United States, becoming involved in culture wars between conservatives and progressives.

[85] Far right groups, as part of their xenophobic policy, had been encouraging people to oppose DP centres for some years, with little success.

[88] In September 2019, Oughterard saw the largest ever protests against a proposed DP centre, which was blockaded night and day for three weeks.

In a podcast in 2019 he claimed that direct provision was not inhumane and that asylum seekers lived in luxury compared to how he grew up.

Waters cited the National Crime Council report, conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute, which found approximate gender symmetry in most measures of domestic violence and he pointed out that despite these statistics, funding for women victims of domestic violence (€15 million) disproportionately outstrips funding for male victims.

[99] In November 2018 The Irish Times journalist Kitty Holland took a defamation action against Waters for accusing her of lying about the cause of death of Savita Halappanavar.