Ernest Shackleton Autumn School 2024 in Athy welcomed visitors from far and wide
A new museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Shackleton is scheduled to open
Pictured at the official opening: Marc Guernon, Dr John Shears (Endurance 22 Expedition); Peter Carey (Chairman of Shackleton Museum Company), the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton (Sir Ernest Shackleton’s granddaughter), Donald Lamont (Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust) and Brian O’Gorman.
The 24th annual Ernest Shackleton Autumn School took place in Athy from 8th to 10th November last.
This year’s school welcomed visitors from far and wide and attracted many Polar theme experts.
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, under the chairmanship of Donald Lamont, and the Expedition Leader, Dr John Shears, were successful in March 2022 to locate the wreck of ‘Endurance’, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship which has not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.
One hundred years after Shackleton’s death, Endurance was found at a depth of 3008 metres in the Weddell Sea, within the search area defined by the expedition team before its departure from Cape Town, and approximately four miles south of the position originally recorded by Captain Worsley.
A new museum dedicated to the life and legacy of Shackleton is being developed in the former Town Hall, Emily Square, Athy and is scheduled to open next summer.