The James Caird 100 project was devised by Athy Shackleton Museum, to commemorate one of the greatest ever feats of seafaring. In April/May 1916, Ernest Shackleton and five crew sailed the 22 foot (6.9m) wooden lifeboat James Caird 800 nautical miles (1500km) across the roughest ocean on the planet to reach a remote Norwegian outpost on the Antarctic island of South Georgia. This essential link with the outside world enabled the ultimate rescue of Shackleton’s beleagured crew from the frozen wastes of Antarctica.
Half of the crew of the James Caird were Irish – Ernest Shackleton from Kilkea, County Kildare, Tom Crean – Annauscaul, Co. Kerry and Tim McCarthy, Kinsale, Co. Cork.
> A statistical blip?….maybe.
> Something in the Irish character?….maybe.
James Caird 100 is a contemporary artistic installation inspired by the original event.
See further information on the Endurance expedition and the James Caird voyage.
Shackleton Museum – promoting County Kildare and all it has to offer – see here