Mary Ryan (14 December 1873 – 16 June 1961) was the first woman in Ireland or Great Britain to be a professor at a university.

[4] Ryan attended, and was the first student, at St Angela's College in Cork;[5] initially founded as a secondary school for girls by the Ursuline Sisters.

[9] She was known for sending students to complete postgraduate education in the Sorbonne and she was awarded a Doctor of Letters for her publications.

And everybody said she was marvellous because she did teach the little ducks, spoonfed them, breastfed them, predigested their pap for them," [7]: 130  Ryan retired in 1938[7] and died on 16 June 1961 at Gortalough, Douglas, County Cork.

In 2010 former President of Ireland Mary Robinson was part of the celebrations in University College Cork, held to commemorate the achievement of a woman being appointed as Professor for the first time.