Mensun Bound, who was director of exploration when the Discovery was discovered in the Antarctic, returns to the Shackleton Autumn School next month.

“The Endurance: conception, construction, destruction and reconstruction” is the title of Bound’s talk on October 22nd.

He will draw on research conducted on Endurance before and after its rediscovery in March 2022 by the Endurance22 expedition for the theme.

Bound will discuss the ship, its strengths, and areas of vulnerability.

He will also focus on how conditions combined to take down what was reputed to be one of the strongest wooden ships ever built.

The weekend Shackleton Autumn School programme will include an exhibition entitled “Retraced – The Worst Journey in the World”.

This will include “never before displayed items” relating to Apsley Cherry Garrard.

This year marks the 101st anniversary of the publication of the ‘The Worst Journey in the World’, which recounts a journey that was a tumultuous “coming of age” for its author and the heroic era of polar exploration, the school notes.

Day tickets for the 23rd Shackleton Autumn School are available now for €95 (Saturday) and €65 (Sunday).

The Shackleton Museum can be contacted by email ([email protected]) to purchase tickets.

The full programme is here

#SHACKLETON – A month from now sees the Shackleton Autumn School (26-29 October), now in its 12th year, take place in the Athy Heritage Centre-Museum, in Co. Kildare.

The Shackleton Autumn School was established to commemorate the explorer in the county of his birth, as he was born at Kilkea House, near Athy in 1874. The school claims to be the only annual polar event of its kind in the world and is a forum for discussion and debate on polar exhibition and presentation of artistic work relevant to Shackleton.

The autumn school will feature lecturers, drama, film, excursions, exhibits, and the Polar Exhibition 'Scott' for further details visit: www.shackletonmuseum.com/news/