Tom Crean Events in Annascaul 2002

What a truly memorable week we had in Annascaul, April 17th to 23rd. It all started with a wonderful slide show given by Broke Evans, in the South Pole Inn, on Wednesday night, the 17th of April. Broke is the son of Teddy Evans, whose life Tom Crean saved on the 'Terra Nova' expedition in 1912 led by Captain Scott. Scott reached The South Pole but perished on the return journey. If it had not been for Tom Crean's heroic walk of 35 miles to get help, Broke would not have been with us.

On the morning of Thursday 18th Maeve Kelly of Walking Boots Tours, brought Broke Evans and his family on the Tom Crean Historical Walking Tour. The first stop was to Tom Crean's birthplace at Gurtachrane,then onto Minard Castle where Tom Crean took the boat to join the British Navy in 1893 and finally to Tom's resting place at Ballinacourty Graveyard. Broke said that it was "the most unforgetable day for me" standing by Tom Crean's grave and to see the special wreath that his father Teddy sent in 1938 to Tom's funeral was very moving for him. Due to popular demand Broke gave another slide show on Thursday night in The South Pole Inn. Eileen Percival, Secretary of the Tom Crean Society presented him with a piece of Annascaul Pottery and two copies of 'The Small book of Annascaul'. Brokes unique lecture with an oldfashioned slide projector known as 'The Magic Lantern' was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, many of the slides were from his father's original lecture series. The slides dated to 1913 and some to 1890. This was the first time that the daughters of Tom Crean, Mary and Eileen met the son of Admiral Teddy Evans, Broke Evans.

On the night of Friday 19th no stranger to Annascaul, Michael Smith, author of 'The Unsung Hero' gave a talk on Tom Crean's role in all the Antarctic expeditions and he emphasized the fact that Petty Officers like Crean where 'the backbone' of the expeditions to the South Pole. Michael gave us an update on how well his book was being received. 27,000 copies have now been sold in Ireland and a reprint has been ordered by his publisher in America.

The final coup for Annascaul was the arrival of the famous modern day explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary and his wife Lady June Hillary into The South Pole Inn for a quiet drink. Sir Edmund was the first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953 and in 1956 he was on the team that were the first to make the Trans-Antarctic crossing to The South Pole by Massey Ferguson tractor. Sir Edmund very kindly gave an interview to Donnacha O'Dulaing of 'Failte Isteach' at R.T.E.

On Sunday 21st Sir Edmund returned to the village. He was interviewed by Derek Davis for R.T.E. television and his programme 'Out of the Blue' upstairs in Tom's bedroom. At the end of this interview Sir Edmund and his wife Lady June where presented with Annascaul Pottery and 'The Small Book of Annascaul by Marie Kennedy, chairperson of the Tom Crean Memorial Project.

Donnacha O'Dulaing broadcast a very special 'Failte Isteach', about Tom Crean on Saturday night April 27th at 10.15pm on R.T.E. radio one. It was also broadcast via satellite and the Internet so family and friends all over the world from Copenhagen,to Paris, to New York were eagerly listening in. Donnacha will also be doing a special show on Sir Edmund Hillary at a later date.

The Tom Crean Memorial Project and the Tom Crean Society wish the Kerry Museum and its curator Helen O'Carroll every success with the the Antarctica Exhibition, which opened in April. Annascaul was well represented at the official opening of the exhibition in Kerry Museum, Denny Street,Tralee. Sir Edmund Hillary gave a short speech and commented on the extraordinary bravery & heroism of the Annascaul man Tom Crean. Michael Smith, author of 'The Unsung Hero' said 'he felt that the exhibition was truly top class' and every credit was due to Helen O'Carroll, the museums curator for her hard work and innovative ideas. There were many distinguished guests at the opening, Mary and Eileen Crean O' Brien and all their family and grand children. Jonathan Shackelton, grandson of Sir Ernest Shackelton and his wife Daphne. Falcon Scott, grandson of Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Chris Wilson, nephew of E.A. Wilson who produced so many wonderful drawings and paintings of Antarctic life and the Icy landscapes he saw while on expedition. Brendan Grunewald who is the founder member of a fantastic website called www.70south.com which is, "The No.1 source for Antarctic information" was also at the opening. A reception followed at Siamsa Tire, Mary Crean O' Brien thanked everyone for coming and for their support and involvement which was much appreciated by the Crean family. Sir Edmund graciously signed many books and postcards for everyone under the watchful eye of Lady June.

After the reception in Tralee Maeve brought us all back to Annascaul and later had the pleasure of meeting and talking to the grandsons of Shackleton and Scott for some time over dinner at The South Pole Inn. Jonathan Shackelton has been to the Antarctic seven times he told us and it was most interesting hearing what the experience was like with the rough seas and the ice but as he said 'it is really quite difficult to explain what it really is like until you experience it for yourself' Falcon Scott explained how he was lucky to have actually been to the Discovery Hut and he has plans to go again to the Antarctic. Falcon told us that every newborn Scott is christened on the Discovery that is moored in Dundee, Scotland and their names are etched in the ship, what a wonderful tradition. Shackleton and Scott visited Tom Crean's grave at Ballinacourty, which is fast becoming the Mecca for one and all who have connections with Antarctica past and present. They and our other distinguished guests were delighted with the warm welcome they received in Annascaul, Ballinacourty and Gurtachrane, and assured all present that they will return soon.