• Our Ring Around Ireland
    The colors are said to represent the Antarctic — Annascaul, Ireland.
    With Crean and the husky pups at the Memorial Park — Annascaul, Ireland.This memorial is topped with a rock from Shackleton's gravesite in Grytviken, South Georgia.A quiet country road for our stroll to Ballynacourty Cemetery — Annascaul, Ireland.1Colorful flowers on the country road stroll to Ballynacourty Cemetery — Annascaul, Ireland.We smelled the cows at this dairy farm before we saw them — Annascaul, Ireland.My Sis wrote that looking at the color green for 20 minutes a day is very relaxing — Annascaul.Adding to the rock stash at the Crean family crypt — Annascaul, Ireland.

    Annascaul: Tom Crean’s Hometown

    June 25, 2019 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    From Inch Strand, we briefly got back on R651 before taking a short detour to the village of Annascaul.

    In my Kenmare footprint yesterday, I mentioned the name of an Antarctic explorer of the Heroic Age — Tom Crean. Born at a farm near Annascaul, Crean returned to live out the rest of his life in this village after he retired from life at sea.

    Our visit to Annascaul had a couple of goals. (1) Find the South Pole Inn, which Crean opened in the early 20th century after he settled here. (2) visit the memorial park where there is a statue of him in one of his iconic poses from the Endurance Expedition ... with husky puppies gathered in his arms. (3) Hike/stroll to the Ballynacourty Cemetery ... to stretch our legs and also to pay our respects at Crean’s grave. (4) Have lunch ... preferably at the South Pole Inn.

    I’m happy to say that we achieved all of our goals!    Read more