TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to Pat Jennings, one of the last of a generation of Galway hooker skippers, who died this week at the age of 93.
Dr Michael Brogan of the Cruinniú na mBád hooker festival in Kinvara, said yesterday that Mr Jennings was "pivotal" to the revival of the traditional boat movement, and was 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 said.
Mr Jennings, also known at Pat Cheoinín, grew up on Feenish island 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", according to Catherine Jennings, neighbour and colleague in the traditional boat movement in Connemara.
He lost a son, Mairtín, at sea, when an Aran vessel sank off west Cork several decades ago. He is predeceased by his wife, Nora, and is survived by four sons and nine daughters. His removal is at 7.30pm today in St Mary's Church, the Claddagh, and the funeral is at 11am tomorrow.