Tom Crean's family delighted at Norwegian tailfin honour

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’.

The low-fares giant, which is set to launch its first transatlantic routes from Ireland to the US east coast this summer, confirmed yesterday that the iconic portrait of Kerry-born Crean with his trademark pipe, will appear in giant form on the tailfins of its new 737MAX aircraft which will serve the new routes from Cork, Shannon, and Dublin airports to New England and New York from July.

Kenmare-based Aileen Crean O’Brien said her family is delighted at the honour, which they hope will raise awareness both here in Ireland and in the US of Crean’s heroic polar exploits.