Mary Guiney (née Leahy, 2 March 1901 - 23 August 2004) was an Irish businesswoman and centenarian, best known as the long serving chairperson of Clerys & Co.
Early life and education
Mary Leahy, known as May in her youth, was born 2 March 1901 at the family farm at Creeves, near Shanagolden, County Limerick. Her parents were John and Hannah Leahy (née Cuddihy), and it is believed she had an older brother and sister, a younger sister and two younger brothers. Her family sent her to the Dominican College in Eccles Street in Dublin. After she left school, she gained employment in Guineys & Co. on Talbot Street, owned by Denis Guiney. and chairperson of the board. while Denis Guiney's nephew, Arthur Walls, took over the day-today running of the stores.
Over time, Guiney gave relatives positions within the business, some senior, but continued to retain a controlling stake and resisted suggestions to sell the company or major assets. Among the sales she refused was a takeover bid from Dublin serial entrepreneur John Teeling in 1987, and a failed buyout bid in 1999 by Clerys' general manager, Tom Rea. She commented on the Teeling bid: "Why would I want to sell the best business and building in Ireland?"
In 1999 she sold her house, the Victorian-era "Auburn" on the Howth Road in Clontarf, for £4 million; the house was demolished and the site intensively developed. Following a funeral mass in St Anthony's Church, Clontarf, Guiney was buried alongside her husband, and his first wife, Nora Gilmore, in Glasnevin Cemetery. The Guineys had no children but there were legacies beyond the shares for three nieces, while Guiney's house and a substantial legacy were left to her friend and housekeeper, and over 25,000 euro each for the parish priest of St Anthony's, Clontarf, and for the saying of masses in six churches.