Minister for Rural Development Dara Calleary is due to open the “Shackleton Experience”, the museum dedicated to the life of Kildare-born polar explorer, in Athy this morning.
This follows a €7.5 million investment by Kildare County Council, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Gaeltacht.
Billed as the only institution in the world dedicated to the life of Ernest Shackleton, the Shackleton Experience has over 200 artefacts - including the actual wooden cabin in which he died, which was traced in northern Norway by Corkman Eugene Furlong and loaned by owner Ulf Bakke.
The former Town Hall building in the heart of Athy now features a glass ‘iceberg’ extension and new research studio, which will support international polar scholars from across the world, the management says.
Aline FitzGerald, General Manager of the Shackleton Experience
“Born in Kilkea, just outside Athy in 1874, Ernest Shackleton’s extraordinary story is brought to life at the Shackleton Experience through dramatic digital storytelling, sensory effects and recreated environments that offer visitors the chance to step into his world,” it says.
The building is managed by Aline Fitzgerald, and visitors can look forward to seeing:
The actual cabin in which Ernest Shackleton died of a heart attack on the ship ‘Quest’ during the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition in 1922;
The sledge and harness used on the Nimrod Expedition;
Replica models of the Endurance and Quest ships as well as the James Caird lifeboat that rescued the crew after the Endurance shipwreck;
A deeply immersive experience that allows visitors join the crew of the Endurance as they make their remarkable escape from the ice-bound ship, with crashing waves and wind effects making the journey feel as real as possible;
A reconstructed 1920s cinema showcasing archival footage and historic clips of Shackleton’s various expeditions and activities, bringing his amazing story vividly to life.
The museum examines the polar regions today, highlighting the escalating impact of climate change on Antarctica and beyond. A dedicated research studio has been developed to support this, with archive storage and study facilities that will host polar scholars from around the world.
The building also has a coffee shop, named Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience
The annual internationally recognised ‘Shackleton Autumn School’ will take place from October 24th to 26th 2025 and will feature talks, workshops and events to celebrate Shackleton’s legacy.
Located less than an hour from Dublin and served by regular trains from Dublin’s Heuston Station, the Shackleton Experience in Athy, Co. Kildare, is easily accessible from surrounding counties, including Carlow, Laois, and Kilkenny.
