Ernest Shackleton Autumn School 2018 - Athy

Polar theme autumn school in Athy

Ernest Shackleton Autumn School 2018 - Athy

14 Leinster StreetAthy


Event Details

  • Fri 26 Oct - Mon 29 Oct  2018


  • Venue Details
    14 Leinster Street

    (Old Data Print Shop)
    Athy


Join us in Athy for the 18th Annual Ernest Shackleton Autumn School over the October Bank Holiday weekend. Theme lectures, book launches, exhibitions and culture night.

Shackleton's Endurance crew of 28 had set out in 1914 to make the first traverse of Antarctica via the South Pole, but the ship became trapped and crushed in pack ice. On April 24th 1916 , Shackleton and five crew, including Irishmen Tom Crean and Tim McCarthy set out in a timber lifeboat on an 1,300 km sea journey to South Georgia to get help for their 22 comrades stranded on Elephant island. With no loss of life, it is regarded as one of the most famous sea rescues on record.

Athy Heritage Centre Museum is home to the only permanent exhibition in the world devoted to Ernest Shackleton. Highlights include an original sledge and harness from his Antarctic expeditions, a 15-foot model of Shackleton’s ship Endurance, an exhibition of unique Shackleton family photographs and an audio-visual display featuring Frank Hurley’s ???lm footage of the Endurance expedition.

A century to the day (30th August 2016) since Sir Ernest Shackleton rescued the crew of his ship Endurance from Elephant island in the Antarctic ocean, a bronze statue to the polar explorer was unveiled in the town centre (Athy).

The museum has acquired the ship’s cabin ('The Quest') in which Shackleton died from Norway. It is currently being restored in Letterfrack, Co Galway, and will be returned to Athy.

The Ernest Shackleton Autumn School and Athy Heritage Centre Museum are proudly supported by Kildare County Council.

 


Event Contact Details

Please use the contact details below if they differ from the venue contact details.

Back to Events