Maurice O'Connell (banker)

Maurice O’Connell (5 May 1936 1 – 1 April 2019) was an Irish economist who served as Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland from 1994 to 2002. He also represented Ireland on the European Central Bank Governing Council from 1999 to 2001.

O’Connell was born on the 5 May 1936, in Moyvane, County Kerry. His parents Thomas and Mary O'Connell were both teachers. He did St Michael's College Listowel, a school his grandfather taught for 50 years and was a founding member. He went on to attend St Brendan's College, Killarney. He went on to graduate from Maynooth Ecclesiastical College. He later obtained his MA in classics from University College Dublin. O’Connell just to follow in his parents' footsteps, embarked on the same career, teaching. He started teaching at International College St Gallen, Switzerland for some and he returned to Dublin, Ireland which became his living place, he joined the civil service in Dublin with much of it he spent in the Department of Finance. He served as the administrative officer in 1962 and rose to become the secretary in charge of the Finance Division. He also became a member of the European Union Monetary Committee in 1998 until the summer of 1994.