Tom Crean(1877-1938)
Tom Crean, from Anascaul, Kerry, was the unsung hero of Antarctic exploration. Born on a farm, Crean ran away from home to join the navy at 15 and served on three of the great expeditions in the early 20th century. He served with both Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton, spent longer on the ice than either and outlived them both.
Crean volunteered for the 'Discovery' expedition in 1901 and was among the last to see Scott alive in 1912, just 150 miles from the South Pole. He returned to ice to bury his frozen body. Crean joined 'Endurance' in 1914 and was one of Shackleton's key men in the fight for survival after the ship sank. He made the open boat journey to South Georgia and marched across the island to bring rescue to his comrades marooned on Elephant Island.
His brother, a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary, was shot dead as Crean returned to Kerry. As a result he never spoke about his exploits in the ice. These men had sailed to the ice during Ireland's period under British rule and after Independence, it was impossible to celebrate any association with the British. With striking symmetry, the age of Antarctic exploration ended with Shackleton's death on January 5, 1922 - two days before Dáil Éireann ratified the Anglo-Irish Treaty of independence. Crean had served many years in the British navy, so was compelled to remain silent about his exploits.
Crean opened a pub, The South Pole Inn in Anascaul and died of a burst appendix in 1938. The pub is open to this day.
Crean volunteered for the 'Discovery' expedition in 1901 and was among the last to see Scott alive in 1912, just 150 miles from the South Pole. He returned to ice to bury his frozen body. Crean joined 'Endurance' in 1914 and was one of Shackleton's key men in the fight for survival after the ship sank. He made the open boat journey to South Georgia and marched across the island to bring rescue to his comrades marooned on Elephant Island.
His brother, a sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary, was shot dead as Crean returned to Kerry. As a result he never spoke about his exploits in the ice. These men had sailed to the ice during Ireland's period under British rule and after Independence, it was impossible to celebrate any association with the British. With striking symmetry, the age of Antarctic exploration ended with Shackleton's death on January 5, 1922 - two days before Dáil Éireann ratified the Anglo-Irish Treaty of independence. Crean had served many years in the British navy, so was compelled to remain silent about his exploits.
Crean opened a pub, The South Pole Inn in Anascaul and died of a burst appendix in 1938. The pub is open to this day.
