Shackleton Mural Unveiled In Kildare

25th September 2022

The mural of Shackleton by artist Eloise Gillard records Amundsen’s words on hearing of the Irish explorer’s death

The mural of Shackleton by artist Eloise Gillow records Amundsen’s words on hearing of the Irish explorer’s death

A mural paying tribute to Irish and Norwegian explorers Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen has been unveiled by Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland Mari Skåre in Athy, Co Kildare.

The mural of Shackleton by artist Eloise Gillow records Amundsen’s words on hearing of the Irish explorer’s death. “Sir Ernest Shackleton’s name will forevermore be engraved with letters of fire in the history of Antarctic exploration, the Amundsen quote reads.

Mayor of Athy Cllr Brian Dooley also participated in the unveiling with Ambassador Skåre.

In 2016, a 3.5m high sculpture of Shackleton by Mark Richards was unveiled in Athy by Hon. Alexandra Shackleton and Mayor Ivan Keatley. Shackleton was born in Co Kildare, and Kildare County Council commissioned the sculpture from Richard to celebrate the centenary of Ernest Shackleton and his crew's remarkable journey in the James Caird and rescue of the remainder of his men from Elephant Island.

Artist Eloise Gillard with the mural of Shackleton in Athy, Co Kildare Artist Eloise Gillow with the mural of Shackleton in Athy, Co Kildare

2022 marks the centenary of Shackleton's death, and 150 years since Amundsen's birth. Kevin Kenny of the Shackleton Autumn School says, “The shared interest in polar exploration as exemplified by Amundsen and Shackleton is continued in the close links between the Fram museum in Oslo and the Shackleton Museum, Athy”.

A wonderful @CultureNight evening at @ShackletonMus for the unveiling of Eloise Gillow’s fabulous Shackleton mural. Thanks to all in attendance for their support including @MariSkaare @BerryCathal @MarkWall1 and hoping they can make the Autumn School in a few weeks #shackleton22 pic.twitter.com/1f92qpNGZx
— Shackleton Autumn School ?? (@shackskool) September 24, 2022

Published in Historic Boats, Marine Science

Published in Historic Boats

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Ernest Shackleton

About The Author

Lorna Siggins

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Lorna Siggins is a print and radio reporter, and a former Irish Times western correspondent. She is the author of Search and Rescue: True stories of Irish Air-Sea Rescues and the Loss of R116 (2022); Everest Callling (1994) on the first Irish Everest expedition; Mayday! Mayday! (2004); and Once Upon a Time in the West: the Corrib gas controversy (2010). She is also co-producer with Sarah Blake of the Doc on One "Miracle in Galway Bay" which recently won a Celtic Media Award

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