Iris Ashley Cummins was the first female engineer to graduate University College Cork (UCC) and was also an international hockey player.
Occupation
civil engineer, engineer
Citizenship
Ireland
Born
June 6, 1894
Died
April 30, 1968
Overview
Iris Ashley Cummins (6 June 1894 – 30 April 1968) was the first female engineer to graduate University College Cork (UCC) and was also an international hockey player.
Early life and education
Cummins was born on 6 June 1894 in Woodville, Glanmire, County Cork to William Edward Ashley Cummins (1858–1923), professor of medicine at University College Cork, and Jane Constable Cummins (née Hall). They had five daughters and six sons. Geraldine Cummins was a playwright. Jane Cummins was a squadron officer in the WRAF during the World War II and became a medical doctor. Mary Hearn was a gynaecologist and fellow of the RCPI. Two of her brothers also became doctors; one, N. Marshall Cummins, was involved in setting up the first blood transfusion service in Cork.
Education
Cummins began to study in UCC in 1912. At that time there were 78 women students out of the 420 students enrolled. She graduated with an engineering degree in 1915. During her time in engineering Cummins was editor of the Journal of the Engineering Society
