The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr Michael Conaghan, has led tributes to the chairwoman of Clerys department store, Mrs Mary Guiney, who died yesterday at the age of 103.
Mrs Guiney controlled the department store since the death of her husband 37 years ago, and successfully fought off various take-over attempts. Her death is likely to lead to renewed interest among retailers interested in taking over the O'Connell Street store.
Once the largest and most successful department store in Ireland, its profile weakened in recent years as O'Connell Street struggled with its image problems.
Mrs Guiney, who had no children, had a controlling interest in the company through a trust, which owned 52 per cent of the shares. Most of the remaining shares are spread among more than 90 members of her extended family.
It is believed that at least two department store groups in Britain may be interested in making a bid for the company.
Described as a formidable woman who loved GAA, cooking, golf and gardening, she had seldom been seen in public recently. Although in failing health, she was still involved in company affairs, and signed off company accounts in June.
Mrs Guiney made "a very significant contribution to O'Connell Street and the city, and ensured the survival of Clerys through all the vicissitudes of commercial retail life," said Mr Conaghan last night.
Mr Denis Ryan, vice-chairman of Clerys, said she "had a sharp keen mind for business and kept customer service and value central to any issues pertaining to the business of the day.
"She put her time and effort into continuing her husband's policy of developing the store whilst also ensuring the tradition of Clerys continued as the leading department store and a much-loved landmark in the city of Dublin."
Mr Eddie Shanahan, director of merchandising and marketing at rival store Arnotts, said Mrs Guiney was "the last of the great legendary individuals in Irish retailing. She demonstrated a great pride in her Irishness and also a great pride in the decency of Irish retailers".
Mrs Guiney was also involved in charity work with St Vincent de Paul and the Red Cross. She believed business had a strong social responsibility, and inaugurated annual tea parties for old people in the store's restaurants.