One of the most interesting things I learned was that Shackleton's family was part of an Irish Quaker community in County Kildare, and that Shackleton's upbringing as a pacifist Quaker helped him maintain unity and settle conflicts between crew members on the expeditions he led. This was no small feat, as Shackleton led both English and Irish men during the height of Ireland's struggle for independence from the United Kingdom!
The Shackleton Museum had an incredible collection of artifacts from Shackleton's expeditions. I saw the Irish Times issue announcing Endurance's departure from London, several handwritten letters from Shackleton, and a harness and the original crow's nest from Shackleton's final expedition, Quest. The museum also has the largest replica of Endurance I've ever seen, and even some preserved biscuits from the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition! Would you consider eating 117-year-old biscuits?
Athy and County Kildare were beautiful places. Kevin showed me around, and I saw a castle and a small canal that leads to the ocean. I ate the best beef stew I've ever tried at a small corner store. The museum itself is in a 16th-century building that used to be the town's marketplace. While I listened to stories and looked at exhibits that brought Shackleton's world to life, I also learned a lot about my own heritage in Ireland. While my family is from over 100 miles away in Northern Ireland, I observed many things that were strangely familiar to me: I recognized the style of hats and scarves that everyone wore from my granparents' photos, and the decorations I saw reminded me of my great aunt's house in Philadelphia.
