0 An exhibition of photography by John Gamble, Professor of Geology will be opened at the Jennings Gallery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC on January 20th, 2010 by Dr Clare O’Leary, Ireland’s first woman to reach the South Pole and climb Mt Everest. John Gamble is Professor in Geology at UCC since 2002. A graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast, John returned to Ireland after 28 years in Australia and New Zealand. His research interests lie in the geochemistry of the deep Earth and in the processes that lead to volcanism at the surface. He has published more than 100 scientific papers and has the rare distinction of having three terrestrial landmarks named in his honour – Gamble Glacier and Gamble Cone in Antarctica and the Gamble Volcanic Complex a submarine volcano on the Tonga – Kermadec Island Arc in the SW Pacific. Antarctica is the driest, coldest and highest (on average) continent on Earth. At nearly 14 million square kilometres, it is almost twice the size of Australia. This exhibition is compiled from a collection of previously unseen photographs taken by Professor Gamble throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s while on fieldwork in Antarctica. It includes memorable images of volcanoes, life in the field, shots of wildlife and a visit to the historic huts of Scott and Shackleton on Ross Island, the staging posts for historic exploration of the continent at the beginning of the 20th century. This exhibition follows on Aidan Dooley’s award winning performance of “Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer” which closes at the Everyman, January 16th. Fire & Ice will run from January 21st until February 23rd inclusive. If you would like an invitation to the Opening on Wednesday, January 20th at 6.30pm by Dr Clare O’Leary – who in 2008 was deputy leader of the first Irish Antarctic team to walk 1,100km across the Antarctic icecap to the South Pole – please contact our office by this email <a href="mailto:info@beyondendurance.ie"> info@beyondendurance.ie</a> and we can forward to Ruth in UCC. See http://www.ucc.ie/en/jennings-gallery. John will give a short seminar on Antarctica at 5.15pm on Wednesday 20th January immediately preceding the launch. Venue: Lecture Theatre G.05, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC For further information please contact: Marie McSweeney, Press Officer, University College Cork (T) 021 4902371; (M) 086 0845182. 2010-01-14T18:03:49Z 555 51.890874999 -8.500328064 fire-ice-a-photographic-journey-of-antarctica-2 2010-01-14T09:47:00Z 2010-01-14T18:03:49Z 6 true 11 0 Ross 2010, Ross2012, Ross Sea, Tom Crean Society, voyage, terra nova We are now commencing interest in the re-scheduled voyage to the Ross Sea, deep Antarctica. Go to our signup page and fill out the quick form to go on our mailing list. Further details will be available on this site in February 2010. Nial Foley 2010-01-04T20:52:31Z 552 ross-sea-in-2012 2010-01-04T12:46:00Z 2010-01-04T20:52:31Z 6 true 0 Tom Crean Society, anascaul, terra nova TOM CREAN SOCIETY NEWS – DECEMBER 2009 Tom Crean and the Terra Nova Expedition Just wanted to let you know about a new radio play. If you are into your history (or local celebrities), and happen to be up at 9am on New Years Day (or still up from the night before!), check out Tom Crean and the Terra Nova Expedition on Radio Kerry. New Years Day 9am on Radio Kerry 96-98FM or live online at www.radiokerry.ie/live.php Check out the new video promo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Iq9_mJsJOw Midwinter & Terra Nova Centennial Celebrations Celebrating Irish Polar Explorers in this the first of two centennial golden eras in Antarctic Expeditions, the Terra Nova (1910-1913) and Endurance (1914-16) Over the next couple of years members of the Society plan to raise awareness to the involvement of Irishmen and of Irish connection during the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. Other events and projects to be confirmed will be posted here on tomcrean.com soon. This New Years Eve we begin with the Terra Nova celebrations in the South Pole Inn, Annascaul, Co. Kerry. Date: December 31st 2009 - 1st January 2010. Thursday 31st December Items of the night will include: Aidan Dooleys - Tom Crean & the Terra Nova. An excerpt from his highly acclaimed award winning show.(Presentations 8.30pm sharp, Upstairs on first come basis as seats are limited) These presentations will be followed by New Years eve toast in the bar around 10pm. At the stroke of midnight all will gather outside for a special parade through the village by Saint Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band. Friday 1st January Tom Crean Historical walk led by Annascaul walking club: Meeting place: Monument Garden opp South Pole Inn - Meeting time: 11am - Duration: 2-4 hrs Walking Contact: John Hanafin 0894181287 www.annascaulwalks.org. Then late afternoon time around 5pm, we will have a viewing of an DVD interview with the late Hon Edward Broke Evans upstairs at the South Pole Inn. This will be followed by an informal open discussion on all things Antarctic. NB: Food and accommodation details if required available from Eileen at The South Pole Inn, Annascaul, Co. Kerry. Tel: 066 9157388 Background to Pipe Band The award-winning Saint Columcille United Gaelic Pipe Band, based in New Jersey, U.S.A., will play at midnight at the South Pole Inn. The Saint Columcille band, which celebrated its 60th Anniversary in 2009 and regularly competes internationally, is named for the Donegal-born, 6th Century missionary who founded the Iona monastery in 563. The band was founded on the principles of a united Gaelic people, crossing religious and all other boundaries. The band’s motto is “Ar aghaidh le ceol na nGael,” Scots Gaelic for “Onward the Music of the Gael.” Members of the band have entertained on New Year’s Eve in Anascaul for nearly a decade. “It’s an honor to be welcomed back to Abhainn an Scáil to help carry on a great tradition of celebrating a new beginning each New Year,” said Bob Wade, the band president. “Corca Dhuibhne at the New Year: I can’t think of a better place to be!” Background to Terra Nova Expedition It was on this expedition that Robert Falcon Scott and 4 of his party man-hauled to the South Pole only to discover the Roald Amundsen and his dog-sled party had erected a tent flying the Norwegian flag. This race ended in tragedy when Scott and his party failed to return after physical and mental deprivation and extreme bad weather finally halted the party from advancing back to 'One ton Depot' only 11 miles away. Scott's last diary entry, dated 29 March 1912, the presumed date of their deaths. Many historians are of the belief that only for the adverse weather, Scott and some of his party could have survived. On deciding his final party for man-hauling, Scott had decided that Crean, Evans and Lashly were to return to base at Cape Evans. Their return journey was shrouded in feats of survival and bravery with Tom Crean's journey to rescue his comrades Teddy Evans (whose mother was Mc Nalty in Limerick) and William Lashly being described by Antarctic historians as “the finest feat of individual heroism from the entire age of exploration”. He was subsequently awarded the Albert medal for his bravery. The Albert Medal can also be viewed at Kerry County Museum. Also on the Terra Nova were three Corkmen. Kinsale born seaman Mortimer McCarthy, who on his return to Cardiff in 1913 was presented with the Silver Polar Medal by King George. Long after his retirement in 1963 Mortimer revisited the Antarctic with an American expedition to Scott’s hut at Cape Evans. At the age of 81 he was the oldest man to ever set foot on Antarctica. Courtmacsherry man Patrick Keohane whose diaries can be viewed at Kerry County Museum in Tralee also served Scott’s diaries reveal a personal fondness and deep respect for Keohane. On one occasion Scott, Keohane, Wilson and Sherry-Garrard were pinned down in a storm for four days. Always the optimist, Keohane pointed out to the other lads that if the snow kept melting they could always turn the tent upside down and use it as a boat. Finally Cobh man Robert Forde at the age of 35 joined as Petty officer. Man hauling for ten hours a day, Forde worked with tireless energy in an epic team effort to establish Scott’s ‘Corner Camp’ 35 miles from Cape Evans. Mount Forde, a monumental peak of over 1,200 metres at the head of the Hunt Glacier was named in his honour. 2009-12-27T13:27:22Z 551 52.1498700402 -10.0578117371 tera-nova-celebrations-start 2009-12-27T05:23:00Z 2009-12-27T13:27:22Z 6 true 8 0 Carrauntoohil, solstice, www.niallfoley.ie, 2009 Enjoy the hols... Photo: Carrauntoohil on Solstice morning 2009 by Niall Foley 2009-12-22T16:38:10Z 550 52.0827763061 -9.6063423157 merry-christmas 2009-12-22T08:12:00Z 2009-12-22T16:38:10Z 6 true 8 0 wildside, antarctic treaty, treaty, chris wilson, shackleton, athy, BAS, Tom Crean Society After much lobbying by representatives of the Shackleton School in Athy, the Tom Crean Society, Scott Polar Institute plus many more individuals and groups, the path leading Ireland closer to joining the treaty has now been laid down with it officially recognised in the new programme for government agreed on the 10th October 2009, programme text excerpt below: Antarctic Treaty: Join with other nations in giving support to the worldwide effort to protect the Antarctic through ratifying the Antarctic Treaty. They Treaty meet annually and Irelands position on the Treaty will be put forward in 2010. Chris Wilson of Wildside reports: "Mary White TD, the Deputy-Leader of the Green Party as she spoke last Sunday 25th October 2009 at the Ernest Shackleton Autumn School in Athy, Co Kildare (now in its 9th year) and confirmed that Ireland is to sign the Antarctic Treaty as a tribute to Sir Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean and other Irish polar explorers." Existing Antarctic Treaty summary below and on their website "click here":http://www.ats.aq/index_e.htm The Antarctic Treaty was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by the twelve countries whose scientists had been active in and around Antarctica during the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957-58. It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded to by many other nations. The total number of Parties to the Treaty is now 47. Some important provisions of the Treaty : Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only (Art. I) Freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica and cooperation toward that end … shall continue (Art. II) Scientific observations and results from Antarctica shall be exchanged and made freely available (Art. III) Among the signatories of the Treaty were seven countries - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom - with territorial claims , sometimes overlapping. Other countries do not recognize any claims. The US and Russia maintain a “basis of claim ”. All positions are explicitly protected in Article IV, which preserves the status quo: No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica or create any rights of sovereignty in Antarctica. No new claim, or enlargement of an existing claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica shall be asserted while the present Treaty is in force . To promote the objectives and ensure the observance of the provisions of the Treaty, "All areas of Antarctica, including all stations, installations and equipment within those areas … shall be open at all times to inspection " (Art. VII). Some info taken from plus more available from the Shackleton School in Athy, Co Kildare and also Chris Wilsons copyrighted work on "Wildside Website":http://www.wildside.ie/news.php?art=37 2009-11-18T12:27:27Z 549 ireland-to-finally-set-to-join-treaty 2009-11-18T04:24:00Z 2009-11-18T12:28:34Z 6 true 0 beyond endurance, 2009, pat falvey, 2008, 2006, south georgia, South Georgia training, ushuaia, Niall Foley Photo: Paradise Bay by Niall Foley Its three years on since our first and one year on from our second Beyond Endurance Expedition to South Georgia, Elephant Island and Antarctic Peninsula. Around this time each November has meant many memories flowing back of the adventures we had, the places and wildlife we saw and of course the people we met. We wish all of you who were with us or involved the very best in the future in your travels and life. To Celebrate this I have now uploaded a good share of our imagery from 2008 and some of my own stuff from 2006. Also there in the video section you will find some clips like the SG traverse 08 plus lots of other clips. To view these just click on 'Latest Photos' or 'Latest Videos' on the righthand side of this website. To view Nialls 2006 go to "Niall Foleys Flickr":http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallfoley I will be uploading more as we go along here and just so you know I am working backwards in time. Take care & Stay tuned!! 2009-11-12T11:09:45Z 548 52.0463674996 -9.642906189 these-days-bring-back-many-memories 2009-11-12T02:19:00Z 2009-11-12T12:50:41Z 6 true 7 0 Aug 31 – Sept 5 Olympia Theatre, Dublin 01 6793323 Sept 11 – 12 Dunamise Arts Centre, Portlaoise 057 866 3355 Sept 17 – 19 Glór Arts Centre, Ennis 065 6843103 Oct 17 Theatre Royal, Castlebar 0818 300 000 Oct 21 – 22 Source Arts Centre, Thurles 0504 90204 Oct 26 INEC, Killarney 064 6671555 2009-09-03T15:02:30Z 547 tom-crean-show-dates-sept-oct 2009-09-03T07:59:00Z 2009-09-03T15:02:30Z 6 true 0 claire bourke, 2009, exhibition, kilkenny Claire Bourke is holding an exhibition of her South Georgia and Antarctic photos taken on our 2008 expedition. It will take place as part of Kilkenny 400 Arts Festival near the market cross in the old Daltons TV&Video premises which is being used temporarily for the festival. We wish Claire the very best and hope that some of you get a chance to pop in there to view some of her excellent images. 2009-08-14T15:18:45Z 546 52.6508487371 -7.2506761551 photo-exhibition-in-kilkenny-until-sunday-16th 2009-08-14T08:09:00Z 2009-08-14T15:18:45Z 6 true 7 0 science, tourism, whalewatching, iceland By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Madeira Whale watching generates far more money than whale hunting, according to a report released at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting here. Worldwide, the industry now generates about $2.1bn per year, it says. The group commissioning the report, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), says whaling countries would gain from a switch to whale watching. However, Iceland's delegate here said the two industries were compatible and could grow together. Iceland recently announced a major expansion of its fin whale hunt and plans to take 150 of the animals this year, along with up to 100 minke whales. "As governments sit here [at the IWC] debating what to do about whaling, their people are showing the way," said Patrick Ramage, director of Ifaw's whale programme. "Whale watching is clearly more environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial than hunting, and whales are worth far more alive than dead," he told BBC News. The report follows on the heels of an analysis commissioned by another organisation opposed to whaling, WWF, which suggested that the Japanese and Norwegian hunts were a net cost to their governments. Double digit The Ifaw-commissioned report, compiled by the Australian organisation Economists at Large, found that income from whale watching had doubled over the last decade, with the fastest growth seen in Asia. In 2008, it concluded, 13 million people went to sea to watch cetaceans in 119 countries. As an anti-whaling organisation, Ifaw has repeatedly campaigned to persuade Iceland to end its hunts - a practice which, Ifaw contends, is hurting its whale-watching industry. The potential for conflict between the two industries was starkly demonstrated in 2006, when tourists on a Norwegian boat saw a minke whale harpooned. But Iceland's commissioner to the IWC, Tomas Heidar, said that in his country the two industries had co-existed successfully for a number of years. "Allegations that whaling affects whale watching have proven not to be true," he said. "On the contrary, whale watching has been growing steadily in the last few years after our resumption of commercial whaling [in 2006]." Economists at Large gathered the data for its report through surveying whale-watching companies, tourist boards, researchers and NGOs. Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk Original Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8114353.stm 2009-06-23T11:40:41Z 545 whale-watching-worth-billions 2009-06-23T04:37:00Z 2009-06-23T11:40:41Z 6 true 0 Ger McDonnell, Mountain fund, dcu 1. Ger McDonnell Memorial Fund 2. Ger McDonnell DCU Educational trust <br /><br /> 1. We would like to bring attention to this memorial fund which has been setup to help the families of the porters killed on K2 in August 2008 and also to provide training to locals whom take on a career as a sherpa or porter in the K2 area within Pakistan, something that was close to Gers heart. It has been setup through a non-profit network based in US and with The McDonnell's family. Please donate whatever you can and spread the word. Thanks to Amanda for her work on this with Annie. "The Mountain Fund":http://www.mountainfund.org/online/index.php/projects/active-projects/gerard-mcdonnell-memorial-fund The Gerard McDonnell Memorial Fund provides training in first aid and safe climbing technique for high altitude porters in the Karakorum. A component of the fund is sponsorship for the children of Jehan Baig, Karim Meherban, Jumic Bhote and Pasang Bhote, four high altitude porters who perished on K2 in 2008. <br /><br /> 2. Ger McDonnell Memorial Access Scholarship Fund DCU. They have nearly reached their goal of funding for the Trust and will be having a sponsored cycle to help raise the final amount. 100KM cycle 18th July 2009 Contact Claire at DCU for more details Claire Whelehan PH: 01-700-5467 E-mail: claire.whelehan@dcu.ie 2009-06-16T10:49:57Z 544 memorial-fund-and-educational-trust-sponsored-cycle-ger-mcdonnell-name 2009-06-16T02:59:00Z 2009-06-16T10:59:44Z 6 true 5 0 wildlife, bellinghausen sea, bellinghausen, antarctica, 2009 Unexplored and inaccessible Bellingshausen Sea March 2009. The new species of Antarctic fish, Gosztonyia antarctica, has been discovered at a depth of 650 metres in the Bellingshausen Sea in the Antarctic Ocean, an area which has not been studied since 1904 and where the fauna is "completely" unknown. Jesús Matallanas, the Spanish researcher responsible for the find, collected four specimens of the new species during Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) campaigns in the southern hemisphere summers of 2003 and 2006. The study of the biodiversity of the Bellingshausen Sea has been systematically ignored by international projects because it is quite inaccessible and its beds are not mapped", SINC was told by Jesús Matallanas, the study's main author and researcher from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). "One of the most significant results is that the ichthyofauna of the Bellingshausen Sea, contrary to what was previously believed, is more closely related to that of the Eastern Antarctic than the Western", highlighted the researcher. Another important discovery is that in contrast to what occurs in other seas in the Antarctic Ocean, in the Bellingshausen Sea zoarcidae are the dominant group of fish below a depth of 550 metres", added the zoologist. A family of fish with worldwide distribution Before confirming the discovery of a new species, in this case Gosztonyia antarctica, which belongs to a group with a very wide distribution, the researcher carried out a worldwide review of all articles published to date. New genus The new species belongs to an also new genus, which is similar to various Patagonian genera, and its name Gosztonyia, is in recognition of Atila Esteban Gosztonyi, a great expert in the systematics of zoarcidae who has described various new genera endemic to the Magallanes region. The specific name, antarctica, refers to the place of capture of the species: the Antarctic region. The specimens captured measure between 25.4 cm and 30 cm, are anguilliformes and "the skulls has a lot of its own exclusive anatomical characters", commented the scientist. All the specimens are preserved in 70% alcohol at the UAB. First exploration since 1904 Since the expedition of the boat Bélgica, which obtained two unique specimens of fish in 1904, no one has fished in this sea, although its fauna has been included "without any justification" in the Western Antarctic. The work, which appears in the latest issue of the journal Polar Biology, is based on the IEO's Bentart-03 and Bentart-06 campaigns, in which Matallanas participated as an expert in taxonomy of Antarctic fish. It is a taxonomic study of these zoarcidae specimens (groups of dominant fish on the continental slope of northern seas which make up around 240 species) captured in the Bellingshausen Sea. http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/antarctic-fish009.html For article and more info. 2009-05-14T14:31:06Z 543 -69.5958900624 -85.4296875 new-species-of-antarctic-fish-discovered 2009-05-14T07:14:00Z 2009-05-14T14:31:06Z 6 true 3 0 pat falvey, clare oleary, arctic, north pole, 2009, 2010, spitzbergen, barneo Pat and Clare have already been training in Resolute, Canada a few weeks ago. They have now headed to Camp Barneo and a possible North Pole excursion could be on the cards. With various gear and technology options with them, they aim to check these and other options on this recce. They spent some time in Spitsbergen before flying to the Ice Camp Barneo situated at the latitude approx. 89 grad. North. Good luck to Kevin Dempsey on his current last degree trek. 2009-04-14T12:35:23Z 542 78.8700484929 15.8203125 pat-heads-to-camp-barneo-for-arctic-recce 2009-04-14T04:05:00Z 2009-04-14T12:35:23Z 6 true 4