Shackleton Autumn School 2023 (Part 2)

The Shackleton Autumn School is just two days away as I began to write this week’s Eye on the Past. It has been a particularly busy week, with a huge amount of work finalising arrangements for the arrival of lecturers and visitors from overseas. This year the Autumn School celebrates 23 years in existence, during which time it has grown from strength to strength. The first Autumn School was planned and arranged with the help of Bob Headland who was then working in the Scots Polar Institute in Cambridge. The Polar Institute, based in the university city of Cambridge, was established to further understanding of the polar regions through research and publications and Bob was the Curator of the Institute when I contacted him in 1999. He generously guided my first faltering steps in organising the first Autumn School, named after the Kilkea-born explorer, Ernest Shackleton. Bob has attended every one of the Autumn Schools since then, apart from the Covid period schools which were held on Zoom. Alexandra Shackleton, granddaughter of Ernest Shackleton, attended the second Autumn School in 2001 and has been present every year since then. The success of the Shackleton Autumn School at international level is something that is perhaps not readily appreciated. In truth, the provincial town in the south of the county of Kildare has been established as the location of one of the most popular annual polar events held anywhere in the world. The continued success of the Autumn School which operates as an ‘offspring’ of the Shackleton Museum, is due to the work of a small committee comprising Kevin Kenny of Naas, Mark McClean of Wexford and Seamus Taaffe of Athy. They took on the task of organising the annual school some years ago and with the assistance of the museum staff have improved on the original Autumn School model, making it one of the great events in the Kildare County tourism calendar. At the opening of the Autumn School on the Friday evening of 20th October I will have the great honour of announcing that funding for the redevelopment of the Shackleton Museum is in place and that work on the redevelopment of the museum will commence shortly. That work will on completion give the town a first-class museum designed to attract a lot of visitors from overseas. It is a major coup for Athy and one which I could not have envisaged when founding the Athy Museum Society in 1983. The purpose of the society was to open a local museum highlighting the town’s story, its people and its history. My discovery of Shackleton’s birthplace in nearby Kilkea prompted the telling of his story with a panel or two in that local museum devoted to Shackleton. The Autumn School followed much later and the success of the school prompted the thought of a museum dedicated to the polar explorer given the tourism possibilities that could create. Kildare County Council through it’s then executive Peter Carey, recognising the cultural and tourism opportunities involved, played a major part in securing the Shackleton statue and the cabin in which the polar explorer died. The drive for a dedicated Shackleton Museum would not have been possible without the County Council’s backing and Kildare County Council has now agreed to take over the financing and management of the Shackleton Museum when it reopens. This will ensure the financial stability which the museum will require for the future. The volunteers who have been part of the museum project stretching back over forty years have helped to create a wonderful cultural asset, with the possibility of adding to the commercial well-being of the town through tourism and visitors generally. Shortly the present Board of Directors of the Shackleton Museum will gather for the last time and resign as directors in order to allow Kildare County Council to appoint a new Board. I will be vacating my position as chairman of the Board, happy in the belief and knowledge that the dream I had forty years ago of a museum in Athy will be in good hands when Kildare County Council take over. If I had dreams in the past, I also had nightmares and that of the loss of Whites Castle is my recurring nightmare. The development of Whites Castle as a town/Fitzgerald Museum is my next dream. What better way to make Athy a tourist destination rather than a stopover on the way to Kilkenny or elsewhere than having two museums of different interests, one telling the Shackleton story, the other outlining the story of a historic town with a rich past. I am afraid I don’t have forty years left in me to fulfil that dream. It must however come for Whites Castle can never be allowed to fall into dereliction. The Castle and Crom a Boo bridge are the acknowledged symbols of Athy and must be protected, preserved and eventually used for the benefit of the people of Athy.

Shackleton Autumn School 2023 (Part 1)

As summer greens turn to winter browns it is only natural that our thoughts turn to the festive season in December. However, there has been one fixture on the town’s calendar for the last twenty-three years and that is the Shackleton Autumn School which returns on the weekend of the 20th – 22nd October. With the Museum at the Town Hall closed for renovations for the next 18 months the Autumn School has found itself a new home in the Abbey, formerly the Convent of Mercy, Athy. It’s an exciting departure for the Shackleton Autum School as it has a greater range of facilities and spaces available to the attendees and lecturers than in the old Town Hall. After piloting the Autumn School through two years of online events during Covid the Autumn School returned with its best ever attendance last year and the committee hopes that the attendance at this year’s Autumn School will surpass those record numbers in 2022. The committee have worked hard to put in place a programme for the local primary and secondary schools and students will participate in a number of workshops on Friday, 20th October involving the sculptor Mark Richards who created the superb Shackleton statue in the back square. Mike Robinson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society will lead a workshop on climate change. Primary school students will be immersed in the polar world with presentations and workshops involving representatives of the U.K Antarctic Heritage Trust who will share with the students a virtual reality experience giving the students the opportunity to experience an Antarctic base 80 years ago. Donald Lamont of the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust will address the students on the recent discovery of Shackleton’s ship ‘Endurance’. Finally Hugh Turner, the grand-nephew of the explorer Apsley Cherry Garrard, author of the polar classic – The Worst Journey in the World - will speak to students about what it is like to be a polar explorer. The Autumn school itself will be launched at 7.30p.m. in The Abbey on Friday, 20th October and all our welcome to attend. As ever we can expect attendees from all over the world including the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Australia and even Singapore. Attendees will be treated to a variety of lectures which include the Scottish pilot Doug Cochrane who will speak about his time flying in the Antarctic followed by the Norwegian archaeologist Synnove Strosvag who will talk about explorers and how they break down barriers in life. The distinguished Antarctic historian Dr. Michael Rosove who will speak of the hundred years that have passed since the first biography of Shackleton was published. Nick Cox, a 30 year veteran of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, will talk about the development of polar clothing and equipment, while the Autum School is delighted to welcome back Mensun Bound, one of the discoverers of The Endurance who will talk about the history of Shackleton’s most famous ship. Other lectures will include Caitlin Brandon on Dr Alexander Macklin who as well as participating on two of Shackleton’s expeditions attended upon Shackleton on his death bed. There are a number of side events which the committee have been able to develop this year given the additional space available in the Abbey including a polar market hall which will host a variety of sellers of polar books, arts and crafts. Everyone is welcome to attend the polar market hall to see the interesting items for sale. The most important part of the weekend for many of the participants and local people is the social side of the Autumn School and as ever O’Brien’s pub in Emily Square will be an important focal point for those attending. The Autumn School is pleased to be associated with the Athy Lions Club hosting of ‘South, Always South’ in St. Michael’s Parish Church Athy at 7.30pm on Sunday 22nd October. This is the story in music, words and pictures of Ernest Shackleton’s life, his Endurance expedition and his extraordinary legacy. It is composed and performed by Brian Hughes (Uilleann piper and whistle) with the County Kildare Orchestra, scripted and narrated by John MacKenna and conducted by Lorcan Daly. All proceeds of the performance will be going to Athy Lions Club and it will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy local artists in a local setting and tickets can be brought from Winkles newsagents or any Lions Club member or from the offices of Taaffe & Co. Solicitors.

2016 Shackleton Autumn School

The October Bank Holiday weekend will see many overseas visitors arriving in Athy for the Shackleton Autumn School.  Now in its 16^th year the school brings together international and Irish polar experts and enthusiasts to deal with a wide range of topics concerning the Antarctic and those who have attempted to conquer its inhospitable regions. 

In this the centenary of Ernest Shackleton’s courageous exploits following the crushing of his ship, ‘Endurance’ it is wonderful to relate that the Shackleton Autumn School has grown over the years from strength to strength.  This year we will welcome eleven members of the Devon and Cornwall Polar Society, many of whom will be visiting Ireland for the first time.  Another large group travelling from Norway includes the director and seven staff members of the Fram Museum Oslo.  I am told that tickets for the weekend have been purchased by people travelling to the south Kildare venue from Belgium, Spain, Germany and America.  Of course there will be, as in past years, a considerable number of attendees from the UK confirming, if such was needed, that Athy’s Shackleton Autumn School has become the premier annual polar event held anywhere in the world. 

This is a huge compliment for an event which started off with great enthusiasm but without any experience among its organisers.  The contacts made and developed throughout the world of polar studies arising from Shackleton’s connections with Athy have been hugely beneficial in developing the Shackleton Autumn School.  It is now an event of huge importance which brings enormous benefits to Athy’s fledging tourist industry.  Every bed and breakfast facility in the town of Athy is fully booked for the October Bank Holiday weekend and I am told that bookings have had to be made in surrounding towns by some attendees.

2016, important in itself in terms of Shackleton’s centenary, has been an extremely good year insofar as the development of the local Heritage Centre is concerned.  The Heritage Council earlier in the year granted the Heritage Centre full museum status.  The award was the culmination of three years work in improving standards and meeting the exacting requirements of the Museum Accreditation Programme.  This was achieved with minimum staff levels and limited funding but was a just reward for the enthusiasm and willingness to work of all those involved, whether on a voluntary or paid basis, with the Heritage Centre. 

This year also saw the acquisition of the cabin from the ship the ‘Quest’ in which Ernest Shackleton died in 1922.  Acquiring this extraordinary piece of polar history for the Athy Heritage Centre was the work of many people, helped by the Centre’s good standing and acknowledges that it was the only permanent exhibition anywhere in the world devoted to Ernest Shackleton.  The cabin is presently in Letterfrack, Co. Galway, undergoing conservation work before it comes to Athy to become part of the growing Shackleton display in the Town Hall. 

Reports in the national press and television media concerning the cabin’s shipment from Norway to Ireland provided wonderful publicity for the Heritage Centre.  It was matched some months later when the statue of Ernest Shackleton was unveiled in Emily Square.  The statue has proved to be extremely popular in terms of visitors stopping off in Athy to see the wonderful work of the sculptor, Mark Richards.  It has also proved popular amongst the locals, some of whom may have had doubts as to whether the statue was appropriate for Athy.  Thanks must go to Peter Carey and his team in Kildare County Council for their foresight in commissioning a beautiful work of art to mark the centenary of the rescue of Shackleton’s men following their abandonment of the polar ship ‘Endurance’. 

The development of the Heritage Centre is just a part of the town’s regeneration plan, as is the ongoing shop front painting scheme which has drawn much favourable comments in recent weeks.  The town is on the right track insofar as planning for the future is concerned and we can look to the future with a confidence which was not previously shared by many. 

The Shackleton Autumn School will be opened at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, 28^th October by Mark Richards, the man whose wonderful work stands proud today in Emily Square.  Everyone is welcome to attend if for nothing else than to enjoy the wine reception which this year is being kindly sponsored by the Athy Solicitors. 

The lectures commence on Saturday morning and continue on Sunday.  Pick up a programme from the Heritage Centre or the Athy Lions Book Shop in Duke Street.

Shackleton Autumn School - Two Books - Bridges on the River Barrow / Achill

With the October Bank Holiday looming it’s time to remind all and sundry of the SHACKLETON AUTUMN SCHOOL which starts on Friday, 26^th October with the official opening by Kevin Myers.  The controversial newspaper columnist who graced the pages of the Irish Times for many years is now part of the Irish Independent journalistic team.  He is scheduled to give the Shackleton memorial lecture this year and as such follows in the path of previous speakers Brian Keenan and David Norris.  It promises to be an interesting night and as in previous years the opening night at which Kevin Myers features is open to all without charge.  Indeed the organisers of the Autumn School would welcome a large attendance.  No invitation is required, so go along to the Heritage Centre in the Town Hall on Friday for the 7.00 p.m. opening.

That same night a new publication will be launched by Alexandra Shackleton, granddaughter of the Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton.  ‘Nimrod’ is the annual journal of the SHACKLETON AUTUMN SCHOOL and Volume One includes a number of lectures delivered at past autumn schools held in the Town Hall, Athy. 

The various lectures will take place on the following Saturday and Sunday, commencing on Saturday at 10.30 a.m. and on Sunday at 10.00 a.m.  Ranging from an illustrated talk on polar photography to an examination of Captain Scott’s life as an explorer the lecture series will give a unique opportunity to hear at first hand a range of experts drawn from overseas.  A full programme for the weekend can be had from the Heritage Centre, Ph. (059) 8633075.

On Sunday night one of Ireland’s most celebrated folk theatre ensembles, ‘The Armagh Rhymers’ will perform their unique blend of music, song, drama and dance in the Town Hall.  Dara Vallely, Peter Shortall and Brenda Bailey have delighted audiences all over the world and recently represented Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian Folk life Festival in Washington D.C.  Theirs is a show not to be missed.

On Saturday evening the Autumn School dinner will be held in the Clanard Court Hotel, commencing at 8.00 p.m.  Places are limited so anyone wishing to attend should place their reservation with the Heritage Centre staff without delay.  Jacinta O’Donnell who recently took part in the Dominican commemoration concert will provide the after dinner entertainment.

The ERNEST SHACKLETON SCHOOL is now in its 7^th year and the local organising committee have done extraordinarily well to bring together an interesting programme of lectures and events for the weekend.  The importance of Ernest Shackleton, who was born at Kilkea just a few miles from Athy, to the world of polar exploration cannot be overstated.  Athy Heritage Centre first highlighted Shackleton’s exploits after they had been overlooked for many decades and helped to bring him and his Irish colleague Tom Crean to the forefront of public awareness.  Indeed the local Heritage Centre has the only permanent display anywhere in the world dedicated to Shackleton.  The items on display range from a sledge from one of his Antarctic trips, to a biscuit he carried in his pocket as he sailed across the Southern Ocean in what was a successful attempt to have his men rescued from Elephant Island.  Through the generosity of one particular benefactor the Centre has amassed a valuable collection of memorabilia relating to Shackleton and his family which form a unique record of the Antarctic’s most famous explorer.

The SHACKLETON AUTUMN SCHOOL has something for everyone, including a film show on the Sunday afternoon and finishes with a bus tour of the ‘Shackleton country’ on the Bank Holiday Monday morning.  Contact the Heritage Centre for any information required about this worthwhile annual event.

Two books about to be launched this week deserve to be mentioned.  John Duffy has written an excellent commentary on the Bridges of the River Barrow as a follow up to his earlier book on the River Slaney.  Illustrated by the author, the section on the River between Monasterevin and Carlow includes a number of interesting photographs and pencil sketches with Crom A Boo Bridge and Whites Castle taking pride of place.  The Railway Bridge, just below the Horse Bridge, is noted as ‘the earliest reinforced concrete railway under bridge in Ireland’ which was built to allow coal to be brought from Wolfhill at the end of World War I.  Friends of ‘Person of the Year’ nominee Paddy Walsh will be delighted to find his poem on the Horse Bridge featured in the book.  No doubt the words ‘beneath the Horse Bridge, near sweet Athy’ will bring memories of younger days spent ‘down the line’ for many whose leisure hours in summers past were spent along the Barrow.

John Duffy’s book is beautifully produced and the foreword is by Dick Warner who looks upon the River Barrow, the second longest river in Ireland as ‘a very special river’.  It was always thought as such, even by the Normans who built fortifications on the River, three alone at this area, at Ardreigh, Ath Ae and Rheban.  Go out and buy this book.  It’s full of fascinating facts about our local river which you will want to know if you are ever to fully appreciate the hidden charms of the ‘dumb waters’.

The other book I want to recommend to you is Robert Redmond’s second book of photographs which he calls ‘Achill Voices’.  This time around Robert has merged words with his excellent photographs to provide an insightful view of life on the island of Achill.  The large mountainous land joined to the mainland by a bridge across Achill Sound includes a number of villages including perhaps the most famous missionary village of the 19^th century, Doogart which was founded by Reverend Nangle.  Robert’s book, published by Nonsuch Publishing is being launched on Wednesday, 24^th October by Minister Eamon O’Cuiv in the Filmbase Centre in Temple Bar, Dublin.  The last quarter of the year usually witnesses a succession of new books appearing and these two books are the start of the book fest which we can expect to happen between now and Christmas.

In February 1913 the three contractors employed by Athy Urban District Council to build the first Council houses in the town were ready to hand over the newly completed houses.  D. & J. Carbery of Athy built ten houses at Matthews Lane which was subsequently re-named St. Michael’s Terrace.  Michael Sweeney of Portarlington built six houses at Woodstock Street which were named St. Martin’s Terrace, while D. Twomey of Leinster Street built five houses at Meeting Lane.  For the first scheme of 21 houses the Council received 25 housing applications.  They were :-

1. Mrs. Bridget Butler                 Woodstock Street
2. Mrs. Ellen Brennan                 Meeting Lane
3. Mrs. Bridget Byrne                 Meeting Lane
4. John May                                Woodstock Street
5. James May                              Leinster Street
6. James McNally                        Convent Lane
7. John Doyle                              Canalside
8. James Flynn                            New Row
9. Robert Carter                          Butlers Lane
10. Thomas McHugh                    Meeting Lane
11. Mrs. Elizabeth Hall                 Woodstock Street
12. Thomas Murray                       Leinster Street
13. Mrs. John Kelly                       Nurse, Leinster Street
14. Edward Nolan                                    Ballylinan
15. John McEvoy                          Postman, Woodstock Street
16. Matthew McHugh                  Meeting Lane
17. Ml. Sweeney                           Offaly Street
18. Edward Hanrahan                   Emily Row
19. Henry Lake                             Post man
20. Thomas Keane                        Duke Street
21. Peter Cunningham                  Meeting Lane
22. Joseph Geoghegan                  Offaly Street
23. Mr. Painting                            Tech. Instructor
24. Daniel Shaughnessy                Brick Layer
25. P.J. Devereux                          Post Office

I wonder how many of these families are still represented in Athy 94 years later.

Shackleton Autumn School 2005

With autumn upon us and winter fast approaching thoughts turn to events planned for the October Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the life and achievements of Kilkea born Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton.  Now in its fifth year the Shackleton Autumn School together with the Canal Festival held in May and the July Bluegrass Festival provide a trio of cultural events, the equal of which would be hard to find in any other Irish town of comparable size.  Athy has done itself proud with the continuing success of these three festivals which provide a much needed impetus to the social and cultural life of the town.

This year the Shackleton School takes place from 28^th to 31^st October and commences on the Friday evening with the official opening in the Heritage Centre.  An added feature of this years school is the inaugural Shackleton memorial lecture which will be delivered on the Friday evening by Brian Keenan.  You may recall Keenan was the man who with John McCarthy and Terry Waite spent four years in captivity after being abducted in Baghdad.  That ordeal was the subject of a book written by Keenan which he called “An Evil Cradling”.  Keenan, who is a writer and a poet, has also published a number of other works including the novel “Turlough” and “Four Quarters of Light” which is an account of his journey across Alaska.  I first came across Brian Keenan, not in person, but his image as captured by Athy photographer John Minahan when he photographed Belfast poet Padraig Fiaic many years ago.  Fiaic, a fine poet, whose work does not always receive the public recognition it deserves, was captured on film with his friend Brian Keenan, then a young and unknown writer.  Keenan’s lecture on the opening night of the Shackleton School will be one of the highlights of the weekend.  There is no charge for admission on the Friday night and indeed I am told that those attending the Heritage Centre that Friday will not only hear a great lecture delivered by Brian Keenan, but also share a glass or two of wine courtesy of our sponsors.

Lectures on the Saturday commence with a contribution by Joe O’Farrell, a man who has attended all of the previous Shackleton Schools.  A lifelong student of polar exploration, Joe has conducted research at the Scott Polar Institute and has visited the Antarctic, following in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton.  His lecture entitled “Legacy of the frozen beards” will be his personal commentary on books written by or about polar explorers.  It promises to be a fascinating journey of literary discovery.

Later on Saturday morning, Dr. David Murphy, Author whose publications include “Ireland and the Crimean War” and “The Arctic Fox - Francis Leopold McClintock” will give a talk on McClintock.  Dr. Murphy is part of the team presently compiling the Dictionary of Irish Biography which promises to be the greatest publishing event in Irish book history.

David Tatham, former member of the British Diplomatic Service with responsibility for the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, will follow Dr. Murphy’s lecture with his presentation on “South Georgia” which is commonly referred to as Shackleton’s Island.  South Georgia is where Shackleton was buried following his untimely death in January 1922.  Rounding off the programme for Saturday is writer Michael Smith whose publications include biographies of Kerry’s own Tom Crean and Captain Oates, the Northern Ireland man who courageously gave up his life in a generous attempt to save Captain Scott and his colleagues.  His latest book, “Polar Crusader” is a life of James Wordie who served on polar expeditions with both Scott and Shackleton.

On Saturday the Shackleton School continues with lectures by Grania Willis, that engaging personality who opened the school last year and who in the meantime became the first Irish woman to summit Mount Everest from the North side.  Grania will give an illustrated talk of her journey to the top of the world’s highest mountain.  Robert Burton, a natural history writer, will bring the formal lectures to a conclusion on Sunday with his talk on “Shackleton and the Norwegians”.  On Sunday afternoon there will be a showing of the film “Scott of the Antarctic” followed at 4.30 p.m. by an open forum with Alexandra Shackleton, grand-daughter of Ernest Shackleton.  This will be a question and answer session to give everyone an opportunity to contribute in one way or another to the Shackleton story.

Other events over the weekend include a trip to places associated with Shackleton, an exhibition of contemporary newspaper reports of Shackleton’s expeditions and a display of postage stamps relating to Shackleton and polar exploration.  We are delighted to have for the second year the English based Antarctic Adventurers whom you will recall last year re-created an Antarctic base camp in Emily Square.  With “authentic” equipment of the great age of exploration the adventurers group will provide a rare insight into the hardships endured by the courageous men who braved the Antarctic elements.

Sunday night concludes with a repeat performance of John MacKenna’s new play, “Breathless” performed by the Mend & Makedo Theatre Company.  The play will also be put on on Friday night following Brian Keenan’s lecture but while the Keenan lecture will be in the Heritage Centre, the play will be performed in the Town Hall.  John MacKenna is a wonderful writer who has written a number of successful novels, as well as a growing body of dramatic work, some of which have been premiered at previous Shackleton weekends.  He is currently involved in attempts to get a theatre and an Art centre for Athy, a much needed facility in the town whose population has greatly increased in recent years.  There is now more than ever before a pressing need for such a community based facility in Athy.

The musical highlight of the weekend will be on Saturday night when the well known Cork songwriter and singer, Jimmy Crowley, will be performing in the Town Hall.  Jimmy will give us an evening of sea shanties and folk songs and never before having performed in Athy this is a rare opportunity to hear one of Ireland’s great troubadours.

A programme with details of all the events for the weekend is available from the Heritage Centre.  Call in and collect a copy or telephone Margaret Walsh at (059) 8633075 to have one sent to you.  Early booking is suggested if you want to attend any of the events but do remember that for the official opening and the Brian Keenan lecture on the Friday night there is no charge and all are welcome to attend.

12th Shackleton Autum School and Eric Hobsbawm Marxist Historian

On Friday 26^th October President Michael D. Higgins will visit Athy to officially open the 12^th Shackleton Autumn School.  This will be President Higgins’ first visit as Uachtarain na hEireann to the south Kildare town and marks an important step in the short history of the Autumn School.  Over the last 11 years the Town Hall venue has hosted an extraordinary variety of Antarctic experts who have travelled from America, Norway, England and elsewhere to address audiences interested in Polar history, Polar studies and research.

The Shackleton Autumn School has been one of Athy’s great achievements over the past decade.  At a time when the recession is biting deep into the heart of the town’s economic wellbeing it is gratifying to acknowledge the voluntary workers who have brought the school to the preeminent position it occupies today. 

This year the Shackleton Autumn School, in addition to welcoming the President of Ireland, will also play host to the grandsons and granddaughter of three famous Antarctic explorers, Ernest Shackleton, Captain Robert Scott and Tom Crean.  So far as I am aware the attendance of Alexandra Shackleton, Falcon Scott and Brendan O'Brien over the October Bank Holiday weekend marks the first occasion that these three distinguished families have come together to mark an Antarctic related event in Ireland.  It will be a unique occasion and one which confirms the worldwide status which today attaches to the event which started in Athy in 2001.  Athy’s Shackleton Autumn School is today widely regarded as the world’s most important annual Antarctic conference, a boast of which we can be justifiably proud. 

President Higgins will arrive in Athy on Friday 26^th October.  The evening will commence with a wine reception in the Heritage Centre at 7.00pm, followed by the official opening by the President.  There has always been a very good attendance on the School’s opening night and it’s expected that the people of Athy will come to the Heritage Centre to greet our President on the occasion of his first official visit to the town.

This year the School will host an exhibition on Captain Scott’s 1910-1913  expedition.  The exhibition will tell the story of Scott, who reached the South Pole only to die while on the return trip.  It will feature artefacts relating to Tom Crean and Patrick Keohane, two Irishmen who both served on that expedition.  As always, there is a wide variety of lectures to choose from.  Kari Herbert will talk about Shackleton’s wife Emily and the wives of other Polar explorers over the bank holiday weekend, while the distinguished scientist, Dr. Gabrielle Walker, familiar to many from her work with BBC television and radio, will talk about the scientific legacy of the heroic era of Polar exploration.  Other lecturers will focus on the Irishmen who served with Captain Scott, a German expedition to the Antarctic in 1912 and many other aspects of Antarctic history.  One unique event will be the launch of a reprint of ‘Antarctic Days’, a book, first published in 1913 about Shackleton’s Nimrod expedition.  On Sunday night, 28^th October, Athy Community Arts Centre will host an exhibition of the Polar photography of the American artist J.J. L’Heureux, followed by a performance by the English folk singer Jake Wilson of his own composition ‘All’s Well’, inspired by the story of Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition.  Full details of the School are available from the website www.shackletonmuseum.com.

Earlier this month Eric Hobsbawm, widely regarded as Britain’s most distinguished Marxist historian died at 95 years of age.  His membership of the Communist party no doubt prompted and guided his many publications on social history which commenced with his 1948 publication ‘Labour’s Turning Point’, an edited collection of documents from the era of the Fabian Society.  He will perhaps be best remembered for his detailed and readable studies of social protest in the 19^th century and his influential ‘Age of’  series which started with ‘The Age of Revolution 1789-1848’.  It was followed by ‘The Age of Capital 1848-1875’ and by ‘The Age of Empire 1875-1914’.  The last of the series ‘The Age of Extremes 1914-1991’ appeared some years ago, bringing to a close a defining work much admired for the quality of the writing as the depth of its social analysis.  Hobsbawm was a regular attender at the Hay Literary Festival which takes place each year in the small Welsh village of Hay-on-Wye.  Like Athy’s Shackleton Autumn School the Hay Literary Festival has become an annual event which has grown in importance year by year.  Both have brought worldwide identification and recognition to two small urban areas, even if Athy must at this stage at least give way to the Hay festival as the premier festival of its type in these islands.