Honour in success for Cork and Kerry's South Pole explorers

The gallant endeavours of Cork and Kerry explorers enriched our national heritage, writes Brendan Cardiff

In August 1914, a small band of adventurers departed London docks to confront a largely uncharted Antarctic fraught with danger. They had replied to an ad seeking “men for a hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success”. It was to prove one of the greatest adventures in maritime survival as a series of miscalculations and bad luck morphed into epic success.

Led by Kildare-born Ernest Shackleton, it included Tom Crean from Annascaul, and Timothy (Tim) McCarthy from Kinsale who both played a key roles in averting catastrophy. As with fellow Corkonian Patrick (Patsy) Keohane from Courtmacsherry, on the earlier Scott expedition, their determination to confront overwhelming odds is quoted in military training the world over as the epitome of leadership and teamwork.