KERRY enthusiasts who wish to repatriate artefacts associated with the Irish polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, intend to bid at a Christie's sale in London today.
A fund has been established by the group in an effort to buy personal keepsakes belonging to Shackleton and other material up for auction. The lot includes books, photographs and paintings by George Marston, who was a member of Shackleton's British trans Antarctic expedition of 1914-17.
The personal items, which have been valued at £1,500, mark three key points in the Kildare born explorer's Antarctic career. They include a rough cotton ration bag which he used on his epic sledge journey with Capt Robert Scott across the Antarctic in 1902, and a crumpled sprig of artificial holly which Shackleton produced on Christmas Day.
The bid is being co ordinated by a Kerry mountaineer, Mr Mike Shea, who has recently returned from an expedition with a Cork climber, Mr Pat Falvey. It was with a Kerry man, Tom The Pole Crean, from Annascaul, that Shackleton did much of his exploring.
Names of those who helped fund the repatriation will be commemorated on a plaque with the collection, if the bid is successful. The Ernest Shackleton Fund is at AIB Dingle, a/c number 12098083, and names and addresses should be provided as money not spent will be returned. Information from Mike Shea at (066) 51000 or Aisling nic an tSithigh at (01) 808 2971.
