The endurance expedition 1914 to 1917 is one of the most
remarkable survival stories in the history of human exploration.
Lead by Irishman Ernest Shackleton, the expedition’s objective
was to cross Antarctica after being beaten to the South Pole by Amundsen on 14th December 1911. Years earlier on the Nimrod Expedition he himself had reached a point called furthest south
as he endeavoured to become first to reach the South Pole.

A team of Irish people will set out to relive this "Heroic Age of Exploration", sailing, walking and climbing in the footsteps of
numerous Irish Antarctic explorers.

The Beyond Endurance expedition is a tribute to generations of
Irish men and to the men from all around the world with whom they
so gallantly served. These were individuals who left Ireland and
created a proud and rich Antarctic heritage - one which speaks of
bravery, determination, good humour and selflessness. They played
a significant role in founding the Antarctic Continent and were at
centre stage in some of the most dramatic events at the dawn of
the era of Antarctic exploration.

We honour our Irish Antarctic heroes as well as our unsung heroes
who have unfortunately been ignored by history because the
principle of teamwork is often overshadowed by individual acts
of heroism. This is, in a sense, understandable as individual heroic
feats capture our imaginations, but success in any sport, or indeed
any challenge we may set for ourselves in life, depends on the
'behind the scenes' support based on the notion of 'we' rather than 'I'.

The contribution of the Irish nation to the heroic age of Polar exploration
is immortalised on the Antarctic continent. The names of Irish men dot the charts of the Antarctic continent and seas.

On this expedition we have chosen to highlight the mammoth achievements of Shackleton, Crean, the McCarthy brothers, Forde and Keohane. The Beyond Endurance Expedition celebrates our magnificent Polar history, as we journey in the footsteps of giants opening a new chapter in Irish Polar exploration journeying South
to the end of the earth.

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