PAT JENNINGS, known locally as at Pat Cheoinín and one of the last of a generation of
Galway hooker skippers, has died at the age of 93. The poster, above, by artist Joe Boske features
Pat Jennings who lived in Carna and Long Walk, Galway. The inset is his old
Nobby . "Columbia" . Pat continued to fish
and sail until fairly recently. His contribution, and that of his
family, has been has been a vital part of the revival of the
Hookers in Galway Bay.
Dr
Michael Brogan of the Cruinniú na mBád hooker festival in Kinvara, described Mr Jennings as "pivotal" to the revival of the
traditional boat movement. he went on to call him one of the finest helmsman and
sailmakers of his generation.
Mr Jennings "maintained a link
between the days of working sail and the traditional boat revival, and
his knowledge of all aspects of traditional craft was unparalleled", Dr
Brogan told The Irish Times.
Mr Jennings grew up on Feenish island in Connemara and fished until he was in his 80s. He was a skilled sailmaker, competed at traditional boat events and made model craft.
He was a "repository of knowledge on every aspect of traditional sailing and its cultural and linguistic heritage", said Catherine Jennings, neighbour and colleague in the traditional boat movement in Connemara.
Pat's son, Mairtín was lost at sea, when an Aran vessel sank off west Cork several decades ago.
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