Madam, - During her visit to New Zealand last week, President McAleese paid tribute to the epic Antarctic feats of the Irishmen Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean. Did the president or her advisers forget to include three other Irishmen who played their part in those expeditions?
Pat Keohane was a fellow Kerryman with Crean, Tim (Teddy) McCarthy from Drimoleague, Co Cork was one of the seven-man crew with Crean, Shackleton and others on the Epic voyage of the James Caird from Elephant Island to South Georgia. Cecil Meares from Dundalk got within 300 miles of the South Pole with Scott. Meares was the "dog man" on the expedition.
These men too were unsung heroes of early Antarctic exploration. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DUFFY, Lynn Cross, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.