Died 19 March 2025 

Claire was born in Belfast on 15 September 1938 and died in Rochester, Minnesota, USA. 

Claire started her training in Queens in1956, qualifying with the degree MB,BCh,BAO.in 1962.   

Claire went to school at St Dominics. By chance she met one of future medical classmates, Helen Fullerton, while taking physics “classes “in the Belfast” Tech” for medical school entry requirements. 

Both of her brothers were also Queens’s graduates, although not in medicine. Her sister in law, Dr Eileen Robinson and niece, Claire Gillan did train in medicine and nursing respectively, at QUB. 

Claire was one of 9 woman in the class of 60 , a ratio not  unusual for that era where men outnumbered female entrants, partly explained by the lack of science teaching in girls’ schools in that era.  

Claire then trained for paediatrics in RBHSC, successfully acquiring the requisite postgraduate Royal College qualifications and a FRCPCH. 

She then obtained a consultant post in the Southern Board, based in the new hospital in Craigavon in 1974; also serving in Banbridge, Armagh and Dungannon. She was the third paediatrician to be appointed outside Belfast. 

She was admired by her staff for her calm and patient manner and care. She was respected for patience and compassion in dealing with worried parents and unwell patients .She also developed and expanded the services in the Board area along with Gill Hutchinson.  

After being invited  to the  Mayo Clinic in the USA, to present a paper, she met Dr Aidan Carney, an Irish pathologist based there. Their friendship deepened and they got married in Belfast in May 1987.  

 Claire then left Ireland and the post in Craigavon to spend the rest of her life in Rochester, Minnesota, with Aidan in contented retirement until his death in 2024 and her passing this year. 

Preceding, and following her move to the States, she remained in close contact with her family here, and also with her classmates from Queens. Claire attended all the frequent class reunions, held both in Ireland and North America.  She was always a very welcome and valuable participant. Claire will be deeply missed by all her family, colleagues and friends.  

Submitted by Mark Reid and Claire Gillan