Ranulph Fiennes has survived many tight spots as the world’s greatest living explorer, but one of the first risks he took landed him

Rory Nolan is from Co Wicklow. He plays Ross O’Carroll Kelly in the stage show Postcards from the Ledge, with upcoming dates including Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, Feb 5-9; UCH, Limerick, Feb 12-16; and Cork Opera House, Feb 19-23, writes Des O'Driscoll.

Researchers hope to find the lost ship of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton when they set off on a major international scientific expedition next year.

Lotto luck this year created 22 millionaires across the country.

A RTÉ radio documentary is set to capture the bravery of the granddaughter of lrish polar hero Tom Crean as she battled katabatic winds, sheer cliffs and some of the roughest seas in the world to follow in his intrepid footsteps.

The granddaughter of legendary Antarctic explorer Tom Crean believes he would probably wonder what all the fuss is about after Norwegian airlines named him their first Irish ‘tailfin hero’.

Pat Falvey’s new theatre show tells how a builder from the north side of Cork climbed Everest and undertook other great feats of exploration, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

The inspirational Mark Pollock speaks to Irene Feighan and reveals how he aims to make Ireland the world’s leading research centre for robotics and spinal stimulation.

A special event will recreate a hasty yet lavish Christmas meal eaten by the men of The Endurance expedition before the ship was crushed by ice.

The family of an Irish Antarctic hero is marking his bravery by following in his footsteps, 100 years on.

This print of Yachts of the water club of the Harbour, Cork is at Lynes and Lynes on July 16.

The polar medal awarded to Kinsale man Timothy McCarthy who sailed to South Georgia in the Antarctic with Shackleton comes up at auction in London on July 22.

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

A total of 171 heritage projects around the country — ranging from conserving thatch to restoring the entire cabin where Shackleton spent his last hours — will receive funding of almost €1m.

On its centenary, Ryle Dwyer looks at an extraordinary rescue in the South Atlantic involving two Irishmen 

Life has been as good to Richard Dunwoody since retiring from the saddle as it was in it. 

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How Shackleton and his crew of Irish, English, and Scots worked together was a million miles away from the events taking place at the same time in Dublin 1916, writes Patrick G O’Shea of the University of Maryland

A new book tells the story of the 23-foot open lifeboat that completed the greatest feat of

The first Irishman to set foot in explorer Ernest Shackleton’s cabin saw a dream come true of watching it arrive in Ireland to become a permanent exhibition.

A travel- and adventure-hungry Irish Army lieutenant has been selected as one of just three people selected to retrace the steps of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton.

A remarkable set of rare medals awarded to explorer Ernest Shackleton for his Antarctic expeditions are up for auction.

Wanted:Three young volunteers to retrace a path taken by one of our nation’s greatest explorers.

The Immrama festival of travel writing was a hugely enjoyable event, writes Juno McEnroe

Sometimes we choose our challenges. And, sometimes, challenges choose us. What we decide to do about them is what counts.

Matt Cooper’s interesting interview on Today FM’s Last Word with Jonathan Shackleton ( second cousin to Ernest Shackleton) made me think that it is about time Ireland reclaimed Ernest Shackleton.

Award-winning war correspondent and author Robert Fisk and explorer Jonathan Shackleton are among the highlights of the Immrama Festival of Travel Writing which takes place in Lismore in June.

British endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh is embarking on the “most dangerous swims ever undertaken in the world” to call for a protected area in Antarctic waters.

The author of a new book on Ernest Shackleton has said Ireland should “reclaim” the famous Polar explorer.

Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer

A NOTABLE centenary passed almost unnoticed this autumn; in August 1914, the Endurance set sail for Antarctica. 

Irish political giant Daniel O’Connell has been remembered as the Nelson Mandela of his day as the newest of London’s famous blue plaques was unveiled in his honour.

It was a case of the veteran versus the baby, and no quarter was asked or given.

This weekend marks the 75th anniversary of Tom Crean’s death. Ryle Dwyer examines his phenomenal feats that were long overlooked here

Regarding Paul Doran’s letter (Jul 5), about his visit to Tom Crean’s grave in Annascaul.

Explorer Tim Jarvis and his crew have just set off on the exact route across the Antarctic taken by Irishman Ernest Shackleton in 1916, right down to a replica boat and equipment, he tells Danielle McGrane

NED Kelly rides again at the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, where Sidney Nolan’s celebrated paintings of the outlaw are on loan until January.

Fortitudine Vincimus is the family motto of the Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton, meaning “by endurance we conquer”. The architects of the euro should consider stamping it on every coin they produce.

Everest conqueror Dr Clare O’Leary will this weekend unveil a memorial in honour of a heroic Irish polar adventurer who was a member of Captain Robert Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole a century ago.

DUBLIN-BORN actor Lorcan Cranitch still gets recognised on the street for his role in Cracker — he played troubled DS Jimmy Beck in the British crime drama.

A relative of one of the world’s greatest explorers believes there’s no reason why the Irish navy cannot, at some stage in the future, mount an expedition to the Antarctic.

Des O’Driscoll picks his highlights from the coming week’s TV schedule