The Rory V.O'Connor and Tony Moynihan Award

Cathal Hughes and Russell Brady, two recent DCU graduates, are the first recipients of two new awards from the DCU School of Computing. Cathal was the recipient of the Rory V O’Connor Award for the undergraduate student with the highest overall mark in final year and Russell was the recipient of the Tony Moynihan Award for best final year project in Computer Applications. The Rory V O’Connor Award was established in memory of Prof Rory O'Connor. Rory was head of the DCU School of Computing for almost 6 years. This award celebrates Rory’s passion for education, for supporting colleagues and students through their challenges and his lifelong interest in connecting people with technology. Rory sadly passed away in July 2019. The Tony Moynihan Award celebrates Prof Tony Moynihan’s expertise in software engineering, his commitment to his students and his contribution to establishing software engineering as a discipline in DCU. Tony sadly passed away in June 2018. Cathal Hughes, the recipient of the Rory V O’Connor Award said: “I am delighted with this award as I had an interest in computers from a young age and a fascination with what people could do with computers. I chose Computer Applications in DCU as I heard it had the best computer science programme in the country producing strong software engineering students. I now have a fantastic job doing something I love.” Russell Brady, the recipient of the Tony Moynihan Award said: “My project ‘AR-T is an augmented reality based learning application for the subject Technical Graphics. The main aim of the app is to enhance a student’s ability to grasp the main fundamental concepts of the subject through the use of augmented reality. There are lessons and quizzes to test students’ knowledge as well as a classroom interface for interaction between teacher and students. This project stemmed from the need for better and more immersive resources for teachers teaching an abstract and difficult subject. The app helps students with basic concepts and make learning easier and more immersive. I am delighted to have been chosen for this award”. Both students received their awards on their graduation day on November 7th, 2019 in DCU. A plaque to represent each award will be placed in the DCU School of Computing.

Pictured: L-R: Dr. Martin Crane, Russell Brady (award winner), Cathal Hughes (award winner), Dr. Cathal Gurrin and Renaat Verbruggen all from the School of Computing 12th November 2019