Alice Perry

ALICE PERRY

Alice Perry(1855-1969) graduated from Queens College Galway (now nui galway)
She was the first woman in Ireland and Great Britain to be given a degree in engineering. There is a possibilty that she was the first in the world.
Her and her sisters moved to London in 1908 as inspectors of lady’s factories (factories that employed women).
She moved back to Galway after the death of her father and she took his place as county surveyor (county engineer).
Her brother founded the Electric Light Company. This company generated electricity in Loughrea and built houses in Victoria Terrace, Barrack St. Loughrea.
She married an englishman who served in the British army.
After six months of taking over her father’s work they decided she couldn’t have the job permanently because of her age and lack of experience
She then moved with her husband back to London.
After two years of living in London her husband died in action during the First World War.
After that she moved to the U.S where she lived for 45 years.
The fact remains that she was the first woman in Ireland and Great Britain as a county serveyor with a degree in engineering.