The Prof. Bob O’Connor Award
The Professor Bob O’Connor prize is awarded annually to the student showing the greatest promise at the AESI Young Researchers’ Workshop. This prize rewards students who have excelled at academically and contributed to the field of agricultural economics, following in the steps of the prize’s namesake.
Professor Bob O’Connor devoted his life to education and particularly agricultural and statistical education. He began his career in 1940 as a rural science teacher in Ballaghaderreen, after studying agricultural science at Mountbellew, the Albert College, and UCD (Irish Times, 1997). In 1942 he was appointed the first head of the vocational school in Elphin and began his research into agricultural economics and farm surveys. After studying at Iowa State University from 1950-51, he returned to Ireland to work for the CSO and direct the first modern National Farm Survey in 1954, which is still running to this day, although managed by a different organization (O’Connor, 1955). Barring a brief stint as the CEO of the Monaghan Vocational Education Committee, Professor O’Connor would continue to work at the CSO leading production of agricultural statistics until he joined the ESRI in 1967 (Rouse, 2009). He remained at the ESRI until he passed. While Prof Bob O’Connor left behind a truly impressive career, his devotion to the field of education and commitment to community truly made him stand out as a giant in the field of agricultural economics. He applied his research and knowledge to practical questions while also serving on numerous governmental committees and expert groups. He has presided as president to both the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland and the Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland, where he was the first president (Rankin et al. 2014, AESI).
The Professor Bob O’Connor prize reminds and encourages both students and members at large to strive to continue his work, to keep researching, and continue providing insight to both policy and community groups. His impact on the field of agricultural economics in Ireland is truly one of legend and continues through the works of the Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland.
O’Connor, R. (1955). A Living from the Land. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, 44(176), 401–418. http://www.jstor.org/stable/30098690
Rouse, Paul. (2009). O’Connor, Robert. Dictionary of Irish Biography. https://doi.org/10.3318/dib.006611.v1
Irish Times. (1997) Prof. Robert O’Connor. Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/prof-robert-o-connor-1.46017
Rankin, Kieran; Sweeny, Paul; Keating, Bill. (2014) Biographical Portraits of the Past Presidents of the Staistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland. Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland.
Past Winners:
2025: Niamh Dunphy (Discussion Session) Molly Mullan (Standard Session)
2024: Marie Merlo (Discussion Session) Úna Sinnott (Standard Session)
2023: Luis Garcia-Covarrabias
2022: Verena Scherfranz
2013: Michele McCormack
2012: John Walsh
2011: Paul Naughton/Christina Ryan (joint winners)
2010: Erin Minihan
2009: Edel Doherty
2008: Maura Farrell
2007: John Cullinan
2006: Danny Campbell
2005: Karen Keavney
1998: Michael Wallace
1992: Paul Caskie
Agricultural Economics Society of Ireland 