Dr. P. C. (Christy) Jennings, who died recently in Dublin, was born in Craughwell, Co. Galway in 1912, the son of Patrick and Mary Agnes Jennings. He was educated at Craughwell National School, where his father was principal, at St. Mary's College, Galway and at University College, Galway where he qualified in 1937.
After graduation and internship at the Central Hospital, Galway, he spent some time in England working in TB sanatoria and at Hammersmith Hospital, London, before going into general practice in Weymouth. Shortly after, he returned to Ireland to practice in Bonmahon, Co. Waterford, before coming to Ballygar, Co. Galway, where he was dispensary doctor from 1942-1947. In 1947 he came to Dublin where he was dispensary doctor for the North Strand area until his retirement in 1982.
Dr. Jennings was active in the Guild of St. Luke 5.5. Cosmas and Damian, an organisation of Catholic doctors. He was secretary general of the guild's international, congress, held in Dublin in 1954, and served as its secretary general for 10 years.
He was master general of the Irish guild from 1964-1968. In the early 1950s he was instrumental in setting up pre marriage courses and youth counselling services in the Archdiocese of Dublin. For many years he served on medical teams accompanying pilgrims to Lourdes and from 1960-1975 he was chief medical officer for the Annual Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage. He was given the honour of becoming Knight of the Order of St. Gregory by the present Pope in 1981.
As a student at UCG, he was a prominent hurler and captained the university team on many occasions. He also captained the Irish Universities team which played the University of Scotland in 1935 in their native game of shinty, a game akin to hurling. He was a member of the Galway County Senior team and played in National League and All Ireland Championship matches.
Among his medical colleagues he was highly regarded as an outstanding clinical diagnostician, whose opinion many were glad to have in difficult cases. He is survived by his wife Kathleen B D S; his sons, Dr. Damian (Howth), Dr. Conor, US, Niall B D S, (Kilkenny); his daughters, Orla (B Ed) and Bernadette S R N (Dublin). He is also survived by his sister, Agnes (O'Donoghue), Athenry; brothers Kevin (Ennis), Austin (Sligo) and Fr. Vincent (Peterswell).