Shackleton Exhibition at the National Museum
A new exhibition documenting Ernest Shackleton's legendary Antarctic Expedition opens at Collins Barracks on Thursday, the 21st of July.
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition documents one of the greatest tales of survival in expedition history, the dramatic, near-fatal expedition to Antarctica led by Sir Ernest Shackleton in 1914.
Shackleton had hoped to attempt a Trans-Antarctic Expedition across the frozen wastes of Antarctica, when his ship Endurance became trapped in pack ice on the Weddell Sea and was eventually crushed. The crew salvaged what provisions they could muster and had to carry boats over land waiting for a break in the ice to reach a nearby island.
When Shackleton landed on Elephant Island he made the bold decision to leave a large portion of the crew on the Island, while he would take a small crew across the most dangerous seas in the world to the whaling stations of South Georgia in a bid to mount a rescue.
Tom Crean, the Kerry-born Antarctic explorer was one of the crew selected to sail and along with Frank Worsley formed a powerful triumvirate with Shackleton in leading the expedition to safety.
What followed was a miracle of navigation, seamanship and mountaineering, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest boat journeys and rescues ever accomplished. It would take Shackleton 18 months to reach his men on Elephant Island and it is a credit to his vision, leadership and heroism that he brought his entire crew home alive.
At the centre of the expedition are the wonderful pictures of James Hurley, who had to rescue his negatives from the crumbling Endurance, documenting an astonishing story that beggars belief.
A wonderful insight into an incredible journey through the world's harshest terrains, The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition exhibits at the recently furbished Riding School at the National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks from the 21st of July until the 30th of October.
Time: 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday
2pm-5pm Sunday
Closed Mondays (Including Bank Holidays)
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History
Benburb Street
Dublin 7
Tel: +353 (0) 1 6777444
Website: www.museum.ie
