Six Co Louth students will be following in the footsteps of Irish explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton when they embark on an expedition to Antarctica later this year.
The fifth- and sixth-year students at two schools in Drogheda will be among the youngest Europeans to have been involved in such an expedition - they will be taking on the highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent in the world. However they are looking forward to the challenge, which was suggested by the Gaisce President's Award scheme.
After completing the 10-day expedition they will each qualify for a gold medal.
"This will be the experience of a lifetime for them. It is an unforgettable place," said expedition leader Mr Jonathan Shackleton, a relative of Sir Ernest.
Ms Mary Yore, development officer with the President's Award, said it was "a fabulous opportunity" for the students.
"The award encourages young people to set challenges and goals for themselves and the gold award is presented by the President," she said.
The students and their three supervisors must each raise £5,500 to cover the cost of the trip. They will leave Ireland on December 28th and stay overnight in Buenos Aires before their two-day sea voyage along the Drake Passage, one of the roughest seas in the world.
Ben Maguire-Boyle (17), from St Oliver's Secondary School, is looking forward to the trip.
"Only a handful of people have been there and we will be the first students from Ireland there," he said. Mark Cassidy (16), from St Joseph's CBS, said he was looking forward to the vast space.
"There is no other place on the planet where you can see for hundreds of miles," he said. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, launched the project yesterday.