Antarctic explorers honouredby Barry Roche TWO Irishmen, who survived the Antarctic on expeditions with Scott and Shackleton, have been honoured in their home town. Brothers, Mortimer and Timothy McCarthy from Kinsale, Co Cork, went to the South Pole with the two explorers. Mortimer was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy and served with Captain Robert Scott on both his Aurora and Terra Nova voyages. Timothy followed his older brother into the Royal Navy and went to the South Pole with Ernest Shackleton. So highly did Shackleton regard Timothy, that he chose him, along with Tom Crean from Co Kerry, to crew the tiny 22ft James Caird. Shackleton, his two fellow Irishmen and two others rowed the boat across 800 miles of the cruel South Atlantic. Yesterday, the McCarthy brothers were honoured when busts of them were unveiled in Kinsale by Mortimer’s son, Gerard. Among those present were Capt Scott’s grandson, Falcon Scott, and Shackleton’s cousin and family historian, Jonathan Shackleton. Also present was Tom Crean’s daughter, Mary Crean O’Brien, who had travelled from Tralee for the ceremony. Local councillor, Dermot Ryan, said the sculpture by Graham Brett was Kinsale’s way of honouring two of its most intrepid sons. “We’re very proud in Kinsale of the achievements of both Mortimer and Timothy McCarthy,” said Cllr Ryan. “This sculpture is a recognition of their courage, but also of the hundreds of Kinsalemen who went to sea over the centuries. 
© Irish Examiner, 2000 |