Dr Gay Corr was the ‘founding father’ of Galway RTC

DR Gay Corr, Westbrook, Knocknacarra, Galway, and formerly of Feamore, Irishtown, Mayo, who passed away peacefully at the Bon Secours Hospital, Galway, last week was fondly known as the ‘founding father’ of Galway RTC where he served for over three decades and was the first President of the college.

Gay (Gabriel, pictured), who never lost touch with his Mayo roots, attended Logboy NS before completing his secondary education in St Jarlath’s College, Tuam. He was one of a family of four and his sisters are Sr Mary, Anne and Helen.

After securing first-class honours in Science at UCG and becoming a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he served a short time as head of the Science Department in Athlone IT. In April, 1972, at the age of 34, he was appointed the first Principal of the newly founded Regional Technical College in Galway.

The college made rapid progress over the years and in 1993 the RTC became known as the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) with Gay as its first director. He retired in 2002 after thirty years at the helm having overseen extraordinary change and growth throughout that time. The Honorary Fellowship Award was truly due recognition for a man who made such an enormous contribution to education in Galway and beyond over three decades.

Two years ago, fifty years after Gay Corr first took up post as principal of the RTC in Galway, GMIT became officially known as the Atlantic Technological University. He was one of five people to be conferred with an Honorary Fellowships by the college for outstanding contribution to education, business and public service.

Tributes
Killasser native and long-time Galway resident, Bernie O’Hara, a former recipient of the Mayo Person of the Year Award, was among those leading the tributes to Gay. “In your grief, you can be proud of Gay’s inestimable contribution to the development of higher education in the West of Ireland and across the country. He was the Founding Father of RTC Galway and from 1998 of GMIT, serving for 30 years as its inspirational leader. A man of great integrity, he carried out his duties with a deep sense of public service and was always held in the highest of esteem by staff and students.

“One of his achievements on the national stage was serving for three terms on the Higher Education Authority(HEA), three years as its chairperson. Solas na bhFaitheas dá anam uasal.”

Tom Conlon, ex RTC/GMIT, reflected on Gay’s pioneering contribution to education in the western region. “He was a true gentleman who possessed all the qualities of an inspirational leader together with a vision of the contribution that third level education could make to the development of industrial and economic growth in the region. It was a pleasure to have known him and to have worked under his stewardship in Galway RTC/GMIT.”

Many have commented on the huge contribution he made to the development of third level education, his vision and foresight and how that has impacted on the business and community life of Galway and the region over the decades.

Integrity
Others recalled him as a man of integrity, compassion, a great motivator and role model in the College and local community, a man of deep faith, and an inspiring leader.

Reposing was at ‘St Anthony’s Room’ within the Church of St John the Apostle, Knocknacarra, on Thursday evening. Requiem Mass for Gay was celebrated on Friday morning and he was laid to rest in Rahoon Cemetery.

Gay will be sadly missed and remembered with great affection by his wife Jo and their family, Brendan, Damien, Ronán, Sinéad and Helen, his sisters Anne, Mary and Helen, sons-in-law Garret and Keith, daughters-in-law Maureen, Mairéad and Stephanie, grandchildren, Shane, Joe, Éimear, Olivia, Celine, Josie, Patrick, Griffin, Éabha, Imogen, Jarlath, Senan, Róisín and Alannah, the extended Corr and McNamara families, neighbours, good friends and former colleagues.