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LAST UPDATE | 9 Mar 2022
THE WRECK OF renowned polar explorer and Kildare man Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance has been found 107 years after it became trapped in sea ice and sank off the coast of Antarctica.
The wooden ship had not been seen since it went down in the Weddell Sea in 1915, and in February the Endurance22 Expedition set off from Cape Town, South Africa, a month after the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s death on a mission to locate it.
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust said Endurance was found at a depth of 3,008 metres and approximately four miles south of the position originally recorded by the ship’s captain Frank Worsley.
Aileen Crean O’Brien, granddaughter of Tom Crean, the renowned Irish explorer who was on board the Endurance, told The Journal: “It’s so exciting. It’s fantastic that new technology has allowed this to happen and just to see the image of it in the video, it’s so pristine. It’s amazing altogether.”
She said that she hopes the discovery will bring further attention to the fact that three of the crew on board the Endurance were Irish – Crean, Shackleton and Cork man Tim McCarthy.
Crean O’Brien said that conditions in the area are tough, and that a couple of weeks ago the crew that found the wreck got stuck in the ice themselves, while on board a South African ice breaker. “Even with that, the conditions down there are so severe. You have to respect nature,” she said.
Nothing can be raised from the spot, she said, but the fact the ship is still so intact showed how well made it was. “It would be wonderful if it had happened in my mum and aunts’ lifetime,” said Crean O’Brien, as her mother was the daughter of Tom Crean. She said she hopes the discovery will revitalise interest in the Tom Crean story and that of the other Irish men involved in Antarctic exploration. “It’s important for the kids to read about that and learn about it, and be inspired by local heroes,” she said.
The expedition’s director of exploration said footage of Endurance showed it to be intact and “by far the finest wooden shipwreck” he has seen.
Mensun Bound said: “We are overwhelmed by our good fortune in having located and captured images of Endurance.
“It is upright, well proud of the seabed, intact, and in a brilliant state of preservation. You can even see ‘Endurance’ arced across the stern, directly below the taffrail.
“This is a milestone in polar history.”
Dr John Shears, the expedition leader, said his team, which was accompanied by historian Dan Snow, had made “polar history” by completing what he called “the world’s most challenging shipwreck search”.
He said: “In addition, we have undertaken important scientific research in a part of the world that directly affects the global climate and environment.
“We have also conducted an unprecedented educational outreach programme, with live broadcasting from on board, allowing new generations from around the world to engage with Endurance22 and become inspired by the amazing stories of polar exploration, and what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.”
Shackleton and his crew set out to achieve the first land crossing of Antarctica but Endurance did not reach land and became trapped in dense pack ice, forcing the 28 men on board to eventually abandon ship.
John O’Reilly of the Shackleton Exhibition told The Journal that the discovery was “something that nobody really expected”. “The images I’ve seen so far are extraordinary,” he said. He said that it’s incredible to be able to see the ship in place because no one was sure how much of it had survived after it was crushed by ice.
He’s curious about what might still be on board. There are stories that photographer Frank Hurley broke glass plates that the crew weren’t going to take with them, but that other stories say boxes of plates were left on board.
“There might be artifacts left behind which would be absolutely extraordinary,” he said.
“They abandoned ship in October [and it sank in November], so they had quite a bit of time to retrieve bits and pieces,” he said. “They went back to take things off. What would be interesting is what they did leave behind, what articles or what pieces of personal items, or ship equipment they couldn’t take with them. That would be fascinating – that would give more insight into what was their thinking and why did they decide to leave certain things behind.”
Trapped
Shackleton and his crew were forced to abandon the Endurance after it was trapped and crushed by Antarctic ice. With no other options available, they undertook a perilous lifeboat trip to safety before setting up a makeshift camp on the tiny Elephant Island – on the edge of the continent.
Six men set off on the James Caird, including Shackleton, Tom Crean, captain Frank Worsley, English seaman John Vincent, Cork sailor Tim McCarthy and McNish, the carpenter.
Shackleton’s own account of the James Caird voyage underscores why it’s regarded as such an incredible sailing feat.
From his book ‘South’:
The tale of the next sixteen days is one of supreme strife amid heaving waters. The sub-Antarctic Ocean lived up to its evil winter reputation.
The men endured freezing conditions, their epic ordeal finally coming to an end on 10 May when they arrived at South Georgia’s King Haakon Bay.
Unfortunately for the exhausted men, the whaling station where they had been hoping to seek help was on the far side of the island. Leaving the others camped out with the boat, Shackleton, Crean and Worsley set out on foot to begin another never-before-attempted journey – traversing the island’s mountainous interior.
Accounts tell how Shackleton was unrecognisable when he showed up at the ‘Stromness’ station on the far side of South Georgia, covered in blubber-smoke, with long hair and beard.
A whaling boat – with Worsley on board – was dispatched straight away to pick up McCarthy, Vincent and McNish from the south of South Georgia, and soon all six were enjoying a hot meal.
It took almost four months and two failed attempts before the Shackleton was able to mount a successful rescue operation, eventually reaching his stranded crewmen on Elephant Island aboard Chilean steam tug the Yelcho.
Remarkably, of the 28-strong crew who had set sail on the Endurance, he hadn’t lost a single man.
- With reporting from PA
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Where was the lad from Mandela’s funeral???
Interesting given that they couldn’t get someone given that there were two people signing for the crowd at Croke Park.
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: but if you read the article you’ll notice is a specialist skill to sign for broadcast, that maybe different to what the guys in croke park itself are doing. I don’t sign so I’m unsure
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: they were signer on the pitch. It’s just rte are being rte.
@Vocal Outrage: They’re qualified interpreters. RTÉ are full of lies and bull. It’s not so difficult to do these things. If one of the workers there or owners has a deaf child, it would all be different and all equal! Guaranteed!!!
@Vocal Outrage: I am a part of the team who performed at Croke Park yesterday. I would like to make a clarification in light of the statements that have been issued by RTÉ and the confusion here. Between us, Senan and I have a combined experience of over 40 years of Irish Sign Language provision for broadcasting.
RTÉ chose a criterion of only allowing a performance of the ISL version of the National Anthem in its entirety if it were recorded in-studio and broadcast on a separate channel in spite of repeated requests by members of the Deaf community to cover the actual performance and also that it be covered on the main match coverage. It would appear that RTÉ applied the rule that virtually no access to the ISL version of the National Anthem was preferable to a live on-site performance. What is particularly unusual is that RTÉ do not appear to apply the same standards to the audio performances, for example, it was not necessary to have a studio performance by a band to replace the on-site performance by the Artane band.
The particularly upsetting thing about this is that the official ISL version of the National Anthem was developed based upon a version first performed by Senan and myself. It was refined through consultation with the Deaf community in an attempt to make Deaf people less isolated and marginalised as so well described to the Seanad by a young Deaf man when he was a student at Bishopstown Community School [I won't mention his name on this page, but his mother has commented below :) ] And now this version of the National Anthem developed with inclusion in mind is being used to exclude. These are the types of actions that have lead to the development of the Stop Hiding Irish Sign Language (#StopHidingISL) campaign.
The GAA, to their credit, have ensured that the performance is visible using picture-in-picture on the screen within Croke Park which is exactly what the Deaf community were hoping for all along.
Don’t they have multiple sign language people on the payroll for nucht couldn’t they use one of them?
They had two excellent ISL interpreters on the pitch…what are they on about!! The problem is the interpreters need to be SEEN by the members of the deaf community..it is absolutely no use for the camera just to scan over the interpreters as they do with the players and spectators. The interpreters need to be in a separate “bubble” on the screen and be visible at all times to the deaf person. Maybe RTE couldn’t get the interpreters into the studio in time to do this? If that’s the case then this article is very misleading!
@DeeM: saw it on Gaago
@DeeM: Thank you. It seems that RTÉ would only allow the performance in full if it were a studio performance, which seems strange given that it was live coverage of a sporting event.
Maybe if they’d started sourcing a broadcast signer sooner than a few days before broadcast they might have had better luck, this just suggests that RTÉ couldn’t give a fck about the deaf community.
I see there was some confusion in the comments section. Irish Deaf Society had just sent a statement with RTÉ ISL Signing team. Please see the statement – https://www.facebook.com/IrishDeafSociety/videos/1927746564192545/
Am I reading this right? The IDC are outraged that ISL is not provided for a song they cannot hear and which is a preliminary to the main event , but are happy to watch a match without hearing the commentary of the action that is actually taking place. Is this right? Please, please someone tell me I have this wrong. Thank you.
@Marc Bryan funnily enough you don’t need commentary to enjoy a match!
@Antaine Ó Cáthain: Sure, I get that. A match is visual, but why do IDS require a commentary for a preliminary event which is auditory? I really just don’t get that.
@Marc Bryan: the official Irish Sign Language version of the national anthem was only recently established. To have it signed in full at an event of national significance is huge! The Deaf community at home deserves access on the main screen, not on a secondary channel (which is what RTÉ had offered). A small bubble in the corner of the main screen featuring the interpreter signing live from the event would have been neither costly nor technologically complex. No interpreter made themself available for RTÉ’s proposed alternative, because we do not wish to be complicit in the kind of retrogressive ‘separate but equal’ policy RTÉ seemingly deems adequate.
@Marc Bryan: good question. Music doesnt have to be heard through their ears. You can hear, see or feel music. Did you know Beethoven was deaf and so was dj Pete tong. They b0th can feel vibrations. Deaf can either feel it or see interpreter doing signing and body movement like jumping would meant techno or whatever and if you’re moving slowly it could mean a slow song or what have you. Also Deaf can hear a bit but needed a bit of help from interpreter with words as couldn’t follow words properly just like some would like read lyrics on their phone or anything.
Pay them 500 thousand and no problem getting them
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor, where the hearing students sang but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them they are as patriotic as anyone else about their country they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community,
I saw a man signing the National Anthem!
Could they not pre record in studio and play back anytime it’s needed?
Irish Sign Language (ISL) was endorsed as one of Ireland’s national languages through the passing of the ISL Act last December. Whether subtitles, interpreters on another channel “do the job” – as a society that has always we have been known for our inclusive nature. We should, but particularly the national broadcaster should, celebrate and be proud to showcase A Deaf presenter signing an officially translated ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ at key events. It doesn’t cost or inconvenience anyone. It just requires some additional planning and having an attitude of being proud of something that affects and benefits many people in Irish society. ISL is a beautiful visual language and Deaf culture is rich in its history. We should celebrate that which brings our society together – not pull it apart.
RTE, all signtalk and no action.
Subtitles?
@Rear Admiral: ISL is it’s own unique language. It isn’t a written language so subtitles won’t work
@Sandra: why does one need to sign a “fixed” text/lyrics when subtitles will do?
@Sandra: If it’s a written language, why not put it up on the big screen
@Oracle Steve: it’s not a written language, it’s visual. It wouldn’t have killed RTE to do a little bubble on screen or a split screen in order to show the anthem as agreed. It seems the main problem may be that none of the signers on RTEs books were suitably qualified to sign the anthem as signing to music is different to speech. Perhaps an agreement shouldn’t have been reached without first checking the outcome was possible.
@Sandra: RTÉ’s proposed solution, to broadcast a different interpreter signing the anthem on a separate channel, was discriminatory. Interpreters did not make themselves available because we do not want to be complicit in discrimination against Ireland’s Deaf community. As you say, a bubble in the corner wouldn’t have killed them!
@Sandra: As a part of the team who performed yesterday in Croke Park, I would like to clarify that Senan is indeed a presenter with RTÉ and was present on the pitch. RTÉ chose not to allow for the on pitch performance of the ISL version of the National Anthem not to be broadcast because it was not being filmed under studio conditions. In contrast, RTÉ did not require a studio band to dub over the performance of the National Anthem by the Artane Band.
@Darren Byrne: *RTÉ chose not to allow for the on-pitch performance of the ISL version of the National Anthem to be broadcast because it was not being filmed under studio conditions.* double negative…
You understand that a match is visual and doesnt require commentary to be enjoyed and understood. Great.
And you understand the anthem is auditory, and not visual. I’m going to take a leap of faith and say you understand the deaf community struggle with auditory and not visual. You arent deaf but you saying you don’t understand why the IDS require a commentary for an auditory makes you out to be dummy.
The camera panning around the crowd, maybe its at least nice if a deaf person may know what is being sung? Btw, thats a rhetorical question.
Imagine if the TV channels was full of ISL without any English spoken for hearing people to hear, but we ‘wouldn’t’ let that happen, we’d think it’d be too difficult and complicated to do that. How would you all feel?
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor to his school where the hearing students sang the National Anthem but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them , they are as patriotic as anyone else about their country they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community,
but l do believe ISL will have its rightful place, at all public events and deaf people will no longer feel excluded.
What
Any reason they can’t read the anthem of the giant screens at the game?
@Oracle Steve: Richness of life experience
@Oracle Steve: a 2006 survey found that;
The Irish Deaf Education System produced over 70% of school leavers to have ‘little to no confidence’ in reading a newspaper.
The Irish Deaf Education System produced nearly 80% of school leavers to have ‘little to no confidence’ in writing a basic letter or even to use email.
The Irish Deaf Education System produced over 80% of school leavers to have ‘little to no confidence’ in filling out an official form
@Oracle Steve: Just to clarify – the GAA showed the Irish Sign Language version of the National Anthem on screen alongside the lyrics that can be sung by the hearing spectators and well done to them on that. The focus of this article is RTÉ choosing not to show it in full.
In addition to any potential literacy issues as mentioned by others, a great many Deaf adults in Ireland have never been taught Irish due to decisions around the education of Deaf children, so the fact that ISL is a separate and independent language from Irish and English, and that Irish and English cannot be assumed to be accessible are the reasons.
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor, where the hearing students sang but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them they are as patriotic as anyone else about their they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor to his school where the hearing students sang the National Anthem but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them , they are as patriotic as anyone else about their country they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community,
but l do believe ISL will have its rightful place, at all public events and deaf people will no longer feel excluded. Ireland is an inclusive society.
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor to his school where the hearing students sang the National Anthem but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them , they are as patriotic as anyone else about their country they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community,
but l do believe ISL will have its rightful place, at all public events and deaf people will no longer feel excluded
My son is the young deaf student who wrote to the senate in December asking for an ISL version of The National Anthem, this stemmed from a visit by the Lord Mayor, where the hearing students sang but sadly for my son and his deaf peers there was no version for them they are as patriotic as anyone else about their country they felt excluded, yes there are teething problems like everything new, usual signers in RTE probably don’t know the signs for the words, there needs to be better communication between RTE and the deaf community
Signing for the National Anthem??? Or for the match?? Why would you need either??
@Rob Cahill: National Anthem at All Ireland final. It is not about needs. It is about our right to access to national anthem in full like all others that RTE failed to provide
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