Celebrating the story in music, words and pictures of explorer Ernest Shackleton’s life, the Endurance expedition and his extraordinary legacy.

Ernest Shackleton died 100 years ago this year in South Georgia. A native of Kilkea near Athy County Kildare, Shackleton organised and lead the Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition, setting sail from Plymouth on board the Endurance in 1914. The expedition very quickly came to a halt however, as the Endurance was trapped in ice-floes in the Weddell Sea which eventually crushed and sank it. What started as a great geographic and scientific adventure turned into a dramatic rescue mission where, over an 18 month period, Shackleton demonstrated his exceptional leadership skills and personal courage to rescue all of his men.

Brian Hughes, who also hails from Athy, composed the music for South! Always South. The music was primarily written for uilleann pipes and whistles, both of which will be played by Brian, and will be supported by the County Kildare Orchestra conducted by Lorcan Daly, which commissioned a full orchestration of the music. John MacKenna, another Athy native, wrote and will perform the narration which will introduce each of the eight movements. The theme of each movement is influenced by aspects of Shackleton’s life or different parts of the voyage. The fusion of the uilleann pipes, whistles, piano and bodhran with the full range of orchestral instruments produces an exhilarating and very enjoyable event.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.