
Athy's Polar Explorer Honoured
Athy's polar explorer Ernest Shackleton has been voted the greatest explorer of the 20th century in a public vote on the BBC 2 TV ICONS series. Shackleton, who led the famous Endurance expedition to the Antarctica in 1914, will now compete for the greatest person of the century in a live public final on Tuesday, 5th February with others being selected from the fields of science, entertainment, activists, sports, artists/ writers and leaders.
The Athy Heritage Centre Museum is home to the world's only permanent exhibition celebrating the explorer and hosts the annual Shackleton Autumn School. A major redevelopment of the museum is being planned at the former Town Hall building, which is located in Emily Square.