Athy Museum Suggested As Ideal Home For Shackleton Medal

Saturday, 17 February 2024 11:31

By Ross Lindsay

Historic artefact expected to sell for more that €2 million.

An Athy Museum has been suggested as the ideal home for Ernest Shackleton's Polar Medal.

The Irish Government is begin urged to purchase the historic artefact, which was awarded to the Kildare born explorer, following his famous polar expeditions.

The British government has imposed a temporary export ban on the medal, which is expected to sell for more that €2 million.

Irish groups are calling on the Government to step in before it disappears to a private collector.

Kevin Kenny of the Shackleton Museum says they best place for the medal is on “public display”, and describes the exhibition in Athy as a “natural home”.

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