Sponsors: The Antarctic Circle and Athy Heritage Centre Shackleton Museum
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Here's the likely itinerary:

• 35 Marlborough Road in the Donnybrook section of Dublin. The Shackleton family moved to this address upon coming to Dublin from Kilkea. A plaque was placed on the house in 2000. We won't go inside but the owners may greet us and they'll be some time to take an outside photo or two.

• Kilkea Castle. We will enjoy a late three-course lunch at this historic 12th century castle. It's set in lovely grounds and is in sight of the birthplace of Ernest Shackleton.

• Kilkea House will be our next stop, the birthplace of Ernest Shackleton and his home until he was six years old. See Kilkea Castle

• Ballitore. This village is steeped in Shackleton lore.

• Athy Heritage Centre is in the nearby town of Athy. It hosts each October the Shackleton Autumn School, the inspiration for the SouthPole-sium There are many Shackleton and Antarctic related things to see here. Mark Richard's recent larger-than-life statue of Shackleton stands just outside the Centre. Plans are developing to rebrand the Centre as the Shackleton Museum.
     Saturday's short presentations will continue at the Centre as well as a session on the plans for the Shackleton Museum, particularly the role that books and manuscript material will play in the Museum. There may be a book launch or two, an auction and some polar bookselling stalls as well.

• Before heading back to Dublin there'll be an opportunity to enjoy a pint at O'Brien's across Emily Square from the Heritage Centre. This traditional Irish Pub (grocery store in front) has many Antarctic associations.

TOTAL MILEAGE: About 175 km or 109 miles.

It would be nice to travel north to Banbridge, the home town of Francis Crozier. His impressive statue stands in a roundabout across the street from his house and his church where there is an intricately carved marble plaque commemorating his life and death.
The consensus is that there won't be time to do this on Sunday. But if there is sufficient interest perhaps a morning tour could be put together for Friday the 7th prior to the opening reception or on Monday the 10th. If you'd be interested, let us know. So far Joanna Grochowicz, Gina Koellner and possibly Michael Smith are keen to do this. Joanna has hired a car so there might be room for 1 or 2 others.

Our schedule is still being worked out but here's a partial and preliminary first attempt:

9:00am. Depart from 9 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, proceed to 35 Marlborough Road, Shackleton home in Dublin.

9:45am. Depart from 35 Marlborough Road and proceed to Athy via Ballitore.

11:15am. Arrive Athy Heritage Centre • Coffee, Tea & Biscuits • Continuation of Saturday sessions • Viewing Museum exhibits.

1:00pm. Depart Athy Heritage Centre for tour through Ballitore and 'Shackleton Country,' guided by Frank Taaffe. Visit Kilkea House (Shackleton's birthplace and boyhood home) to be greeted by current owner Richard Green and Jonathan Shackleton.

1:50pm. Arrive Kilkea House.

2:20pm. Arrive Kilkea Castle for luncheon and 2:30pm. Talk by local historian Clem Roche on the hiistory of this 12th century castle.

4:15pm. Arrive back at the Athy Heritage Centre. Continuation of the SouthPole-sium deliberations, including a presentation on the plans for the Shackleton Museum, and the final "wrap-up" of SouthPole-sium v.4. Photo opportunity at the Shackleton Statue.

5:45pm. Pint at O'Brien's, the unofficial headquarters of the Shackleton Autumn School.

6:30pm. Depart Athy Heritage Centre for Dublin.

8:00pm. Arrive 9 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin.

Stops along the way.

35 Marlbough Road.

Kilkea Castle.

Kilkea House.

Ballitore.

Athy Heritage Center Shackleton Museum.

Shackleton statue.

O'Briens.

Drew Clarke
Cathy Cooper
Trevor Cornford
Kathy Covert
Olivier De Schrevel
Wendy Driver
Millie Eidson
Art Gertel
Joanna Grochowicz
Tom Henderson
Mike Hibbs
Suzann Johnson
Kevin Kenny
Gina Koellner
Jim McAdam
Geraldine McAdam
Breda Naughton
Peggy Nelson
Joe O'Farrell
Michael Parker
Julian Salisbury
Margaret Salisbury
Jonathan Shackleton
Hilary Shibata
Michael Smith
Bill Spindler
Marjory Spoerri
Rob Stephenson
Frank Taaffe (may meet us in Athy)
Seamus Taaffe (may meet us in Athy)
Ken Thomas
Karen Woods

Also 15 Athy "locals"
Dr. Michael Conway
Maureen Conway
Vincent Conway
Marlynne Flack
John Galligan
Theresa Kearney
Willie Kearney
Jackie Lambert
Joan Martin
Roger Martin
Honor McCulloch
Maureen Meany
Angela O'Brien
Paula Trench
Lilian Webb

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