George O'Brien (Irish politician) facts for kids

George Augustine Thomas O'Brien (born January 26, 1892 – died December 31, 1973) was an important Irish person. He was a politician, an economist (someone who studies how money and resources work in a country), and an academic (a university professor). He spent many years teaching and helping to shape Ireland's future.

George O'Brien's Political Life

George O'Brien became a politician in 1948. He was chosen to be a member of Seanad Éireann, which is the upper house of the Irish parliament. Think of it like a second group of lawmakers who help make decisions for the country.

He was an Independent member. This means he didn't belong to a specific political party. He was elected by people from the National University area. He was re-elected four more times in 1951, 1954, 1957, and 1961, showing that people trusted him. He stopped being a senator after the 1965 election.

George O'Brien: The Professor

Besides being a politician, George O'Brien was a respected professor. From 1921 to 1961, he taught at University College Dublin. He started as a Professor of National Economics and later became a Professor of Political Economy. These subjects are all about how countries manage their money, trade, and resources.

He was also the president of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland from 1942 to 1946. This group studies important facts and figures about society and how people live.

Other Important Roles

In the 1950s, George O'Brien joined the board of the Guinness brewery. At that time, Guinness was one of the biggest companies in Ireland. He even helped the people who wrote the first history book about Guinness.

Later, in the 1960s, he became one of the first chairmen of the Economic and Social Research Institute. This institute is a group that does research to help the government make good decisions about the economy and society. George O'Brien played a big part in helping Ireland grow and understand its own economy better.