#Amundsen - A unique exhibition on Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole was officially opened at NUI Galway by Seán Kyne TD, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, on World Oceans Day (Thursday 8 June).
A collaboration between NUI Galway and the Marine Institute, in association with the Norwegian Embassy and the Fram Museum in Oslo, Cold Recall – Roald Amundsen’s Reflections from the South Pole will be on display in the O’Donoghue Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance at NUI Galway till Saturday 8 July.
Amundsen was the first in the world to navigate the Northwest Passage and the first to reach the South Pole on 14 December 1911.
Norwegian Polar history is closely connected to defining Norway as an independent state in 1905, and to Norway's position as a state closely connected to the oceans and to polar regions.
Her Excellency Else Berit Eikeland, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy to Ireland, expressed her delight that the exhibition will be on display in Galway.
“Amundsen’s party had immense courage and determination to make the dangerous trek across the ice and snow to reach the South Pole,” she said. “This exhibition offers a pictorial account of the expedition and of Amundsen, one of the greatest figures in the field of polar exploration and a national hero for a very young nation.”
Speaking ahead of the opening last Thursday, NUI Galway president Dr Jim Browne, said: “Polar exploration remains a rich source for academic researchers and here in NUI Galway our academics are engaged with polar research in a range of ways and in such diverse field as particle physics, climate change, marine biology and biodiscovery, and even the literary history of polar travel.”
Marine Institute chief executive Dr Peter Heffernan added: “The exploration and voyages across our oceans and particularly Amundsen's extraordinary journey to the South Pole are important to our maritime history. Through this exhibition, visitors can remember and celebrate one of the most remarkable feats of exploration.”
The exhibition runs in association with SeaFest 2017, Ireland’s national maritime festival, taking place in Galway from 30 June to 2 July .
Last month Marine Minister Michael Creed officially opened Ireland’s first sea science gallery at Galway City Museum to mark the launch of the festival, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
