[1] He is a regular contributor to RTÉ and a member of the Irish artists' association Aosdána.

His 2010 novel, Ghost Light is loosely based on the life of the actress Maire O'Neill, born Mary "Molly" Allgood, and her relationship with the Irish playwright John Millington Synge.

[8] He was a regular contributor to Drivetime, an evening news and current affairs programme on RTÉ Radio 1.

[9] O'Connor's Shadowplay, published in 2019, was shortlisted for the 2019 Costa Book Prize in the Novel category.

He and his family have lived in London and Dublin, and occasionally resided in Manhattan during his work in New York City.