Tributes have been paid to Dr Mirette Hanley Corboy, regarded as a pioneer for women in the construction industry, and the first ever and still the only, President of the Construction Industry Federation CIF, who has died in Limerick. She was 92.
She established the construction company Portland Estates Limerick in the 1950s with her late husband Sean Hanley which built several hundred private homes in Limerick.
She ran the company after the premature death of her husband in 1973 and went on to play a leading role in the construction industry across Ireland, becoming the CIF's first and to date the only female President of CIF in 1981, and served for three terms up to 1983.
She was also an influential member of the original governing body of the University of Limerick and was instrumental in establishing the first ever student village at UL, a pioneering concept in self financing student residences here, a model which was then used as a template for student accommodation at all other universities here.
Her work and contribution to UL was marked in 2001 when she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate.
She also chaired the Limerick Youth Service with the late Sr Joan Bowles and the Limerick Enterprise and Development Board the LEDP, which has established employment opportunities for less advantaged communities, as well as being appointed to the National Roads Authority, the National Economic and Social Forum and the Building Regulations Advisory Board.
Founding President of UL Dr Ed Walsh with whom she worked during her time on the Governing body, said she made a huge contribution to the development of the university and described her as a person of remarkable ability.
Paying tribute today UL President Kerstin Mey said, "I am sad today to inform you of the death of Dr Mirette Hanley Corboy who served as a member of UL's Governing Body from 1981 to 1987 and Governing Authority from 1997 to 2007.
"She was founding Chairperson of the Board of Plassey Campus Centre (PCC) and contributed to PCC over a 22-year period. She was also a Director of the University Concert Hall.
"Mirette is remembered as one of UL's most dedicated and engaged Governors who played a vital role in the development of our University."
She is survived by her daughter Mirette, and her sons Melvyn and Nigel.
