The Centre pays tribute to Professor John Bradley

The Centre for Cross Border Cooperation was greatly saddened on hearing the news of the death on 16 September 2025 of Professor John Bradley.

Having done ground-breaking all-island research, including for the Centre, John has left us a pioneering contribution to North-South economic development and an all-island approach to regional development.

From the early 1990s through the 2000s his original research provided North-South trade and business with firm foundations grounded within the framework of both internationally recognised evidence-based models for dynamic economic development and his own original macro modelling.

Highly praised by DG REGIO in Brussels, John’s 2012 report for the Centre, Cross-Border Economic Renewal: Rethinking Regional Policy in Ireland, co-authored with the leading US economist, Michael Best, remains an inspirational work.

He was also a regular contributor to the Centre’s Journal of Cross Border Studies in Ireland, with one of his articles originally published in the 2012 edition being selected for inclusion in the Centre’s 25^th anniversary edition in 2024.

Having frequently demonstrated his generosity in sharing his insights with us, his most recent participation in our activities was in 2022 when he took part in a webinar to discuss a report published by the Centre, Accelerating Growth: Towards an all-island perspective on regional development, co-authored by Niall O’Donnellan and Brendan McCormack.

The Centre’s Director, Dr Anthony Soares, said: “John Bradley’s thinking has been instrumental in how the Centre looks to promote North-South collaboration in support of regional and economic development. He has left us with a precious legacy, and the Centre’s thoughts are with his family and friends.”