Remarks at the Shackleton Autumn School Athy Heritage Centre
26th October 2012
Tá an-áthas orm bheith I bhur measc inniu. Míle bhuíocas daoibh as an fáilte sin.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am delighted to be here today to officially open the 12th Annual Shackleton Autumn School and to launch “These Rough Notes – Scott’s Last Expedition” here at the Athy Heritage Centre. I had the great pleasure recently of receiving a visit in Aras an Uachtarain from the honourable Alexandra Shackleton, the granddaughter of Ernest Shackleton who does so much valuable work to preserve her grandfather’s legacy and to further historical research into that great legacy.
On that occasion I was delighted to meet Jonathan Shackleton, the Shackleton family historian who presented me with a copy of his book ‘Shackleton – An Irishman in Antarctica’ written with John MacKenna.
Michael Holohan, who organised the visit and performed his music for us.
Brendan O’Brien, a grandson of Tom Crean.
Kevin Kenny, who has been involved with the Shackleton Autumn School in Athy since its inception in 2001.
John McClintock, a great grandson of Francis Leopold McClintock.
Simon Taylor, Chief Executive of the National Concert Hall, and
Cyril Dunne, who is a great grand-nephew to Arctic explorer Jim Hand and author of ‘Buried in the Arctic Ice, the life and times of Jim Hand and a history of the search for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole.
It was a most interesting experience and I would like to thank Frank Taaffe, Chairman of the Heritage Company for inviting me to join you all here today. I note that a number of contributors and visitors have travelled from abroad to attend this school and I am delighted to welcome you to Ireland.
Déantar comóradh sa Scoil Fhómhair Bhliantuil seo ar fhear a bhí ina laoch mór agus ina fhíorcheannaire. Céad bliain beagnach tar éis a thurais stairiuil taiscéalaíochta san Antartach – ceann de na haistir ba dhéine sa 20ú haois – tá go leor le foghlaim againn fós, mar phobal, ó Shackleton, gaiscíoch cróga agus mórcheannaire misniúil.
[This Annual Autumn School commemorates a man who was a true leader and a great hero. Almost a hundred years after his historic Antarctic expedition - one of the toughest voyages of exploration of the 20th century – we still have much, as a people, to learn from Shackleton; a brave and heroic man and a great and courageous leader. ]
Shackleton was an explorer and, like all those whose instinctive curiosity compels them to push beyond the boundaries of familiarity, he was a man of innate creativity and huge imagination. Shackleton was a man unafraid to question the kind of world we inhabit, to aspire towards a fully conscious and critical life, to be the arrow and not the target. He was a man who looked past the perceived barriers and inevitabilities by which we so often live our lives in order to discover what was beyond those horizons, what was possible, what could be better. He retained that valuable capacity to not only imagine, but aimed to realise, a better world.
He was also, of course, a man of incredible spirit and courage; a man who transcended difficulties and did not shy away from challenges. He knew that sometimes, in order to respond to crisis we must swiftly review and adjust our objectives in the interests of the greater good. And by doing so, his Endurance story has become one of the greatest stories of survival in history, showing us the incredible power of the human spirit to overcome adversity in times of hardship and despair.
Here in this country we are in the middle of our own voyage, our own expedition to find our Aisling and dream of a better, kinder, happier, shared world. There can be no doubt that we are currently navigating our way through somewhat stormy waters as we persevere on a journey that, like Shackleton’s legendary expedition, is not without challenges, strenuous demands, difficult and worrying moments. It is a time when we need to honestly explore and reflect on our recent history; and a time to harness with confidence, our inherent restless, creative energy and curiosity, and translate it into a voyage of new discoveries.
If we are to move forward effectively, we need to fully understand when and how things worked – or didn’t work – in the past and where we need to look past the familiar horizons and push the boundaries in order that our society can work better for all its constituent elements, without exception. We must also have the courage to transform ideas into actions, remove barriers – perceived or real – in order to realise our full potential and possibilities for our country. There can be no doubt that recognising and being open to new paradigms of thought and action can only enrich our social, cultural and economic development and lead to a common shared future built on the spirit of co-operation, of high ethical standards and integrity, the collective will, real participation and an exciting sense of what might be possible.
As part of this Autumn school we are also fortunate to have a valuable exhibition which tells us the fascinating story of the fateful Terra Nova expedition. Through the voices of Robert Falcon Scott, Bowers, Evans, Oates and Wilson and the members of the ship’s crew and shore party we see unfolded the multi faceted tale of a doomed journey that ended in terrible tragedy. It is an unusual narrative in that we, the readers, know the ending but the narrators themselves do not. It is also unusual in that we see, displayed in front of us, how the same event can mark a very different journey for each of the individuals who undertake it.
Each of the voices contained in the journals and letters which make up the exhibition are different and unique, and the views and angles from which the Terra Nova experience are recounted are varied; this, however, does not lend the overall narrative less value or less truth. It allows us, instead to explore the interconnected experiences of all of those involved in this unique experience and to look for the truth between them. It also requires us to accept the veracity of the differing voices just as, within our broader society, we must always believe in the right of the individual mind to see the world in its own way. We must recognise that, if we are to craft a shared future with shared hopes and a common purpose, we must listen to the individual voices that make up our society. We must gain an understanding of the differing experiences, viewpoints, and narratives of our fellow citizens as we seek to create an inclusive citizenship.
This exhibition is a timely one. Here in Ireland, as we engage in a decade of commemoration, we will be required to draw on the ethics and politics of memory in such a way as will enable us not only to be sensitive to differing and incomplete versions of that history, but also to remain open to the making of reconciliation or to the acceptance of different versions of aspects and events of memory if required.
As with those brave members of the Terra Nova expedition, we do not know for sure what the future holds, we do not know how our narrative will end. But we do know that it will be important that it is an inclusive narrative, a story that respects the voices of all of our citizens, that does not place one version higher than another or grant one voice more respect and more credence than another. If we truly believe in a democratic citizenship we must ensure that every citizen is allowed their right to participate in society and is given the opportunity to develop their personal and social selves in conditions of freedom, communal solidarity, justice and equality.
The programme over the coming days is full of inspiring and exciting events commemorating and celebrating Antarctic exploration. It is also a programme that combines art, science and history. Over the next three days you will enjoy a series of very interesting lectures from some very distinguished speakers, lectures that will bring to life the people involved, in their different ways, in the great Antarctic expeditions and will also look at the legacy they have left behind. I am also delighted to see that you will receive the opportunity to view, or maybe to view again, the very moving documentary of Frank Wild’s final journey back to Antarctica. I hope many of you will also find time to attend the cultural evening being hosted by the Community Arts Centre here in Athy and also to explore the beautiful countryside which formed and shaped a very young Shackleton.
Ba mhór an pléisiúr dom a bheith in éindí libh inniu. Mar chríoch, ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an gcoiste eagraithe as clár imeachtaí chomh luachmhar sin a chur le chéile agus guím gach rath ar an scoil fhómhair.
[It has been a great pleasure to be with you all here today. I would like to conclude by congratulating the organising committee for putting together such a valuable programme of events and I wish you a very successful autumn school.]
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.