Find the perfect Irish-made gift this Christmas at stunning new retail offering in the Shackleton Experience, Athy, Co. Kildare, the only institution in the word dedicated to Kildare-born polar explorer Ernest Shackleton

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  • Stockists include Ciara O’Keefe Ceramics, Tamzen Lundy Designs, John Hanley & Co., Kildare Candle Barn, Baressential Soap and merchandise from the Shackleton Experience

 

  • The Shackleton Experience is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am – 5pm

 

  • Visitors can also relax and enjoy a cup of coffee and delicious treats at onsite café Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience led by Athy native Graham Herterich aka The Cupcake Bloke

 

The Shackleton Experience in Athy, Co. Kildare, the only institution in the world dedicated to the extraordinary life and achievements of Ernest Shackleton, the legendary polar explorer who was born just outside Athy, has unveiled a stunning new retail offering just in time for the festive season, featuring beautifully crafted Irish-made gifts that will make the perfect present this Christmas.

 

The Shackleton Experience has reopened to the public following a €7.5 million redevelopment funded by Department of Rural Community and Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG) and Kildare County Council and has been totally transformed into a world-class visitor attraction that combines the largest collection of Shackleton artefacts in the world with cutting-edge technology and immersive, interactive exhibits.

 

The retail offering, which is open to the public and accessible without a ticket, showcases a curated selection of unique, Irish-made gifs perfect for Christmas gifting. Highlights include:

 

  • Ceramics and framed / unframed Shackleton quotes by Ciara O’Keefe Ceramics
  • Handcrafted felt woollen animals including penguins, robins and foxes and dream catchers from Tamzen Lundy Designs
  • Candles and diffusers from Kildare Candle Barn
  • Luxurious throws, scarves and ladies and men’s hats – all made and designed in Ireland from John Hanley & Co.
  • 100% natural soaps from Baressential Soap
  • A range of Shackleton merchandise including mugs, hoodies, books and stationery
  • Stationery and crafts for children

 

Visitors can also relax and unwind at the cosy onsite café, Ernie’s @ Shackleton Experience, which is also open to the public. Led by Graham Herterich, also known as The Cupcake Bloke, the café serves delicious treats, homemade breads, gourmet toasties and, of course, Graham’s famous ‘Retro Biscuits’. Everything can be enjoyed with a hot cup of tea or coffee in the welcoming café space or taken away to savour on the go.

 

Those paying a visit to The Shackleton Experience itself can look forward to tracing Shackleton’s inspiring journey from his Kildare roots to the vast Polar ice caps, capturing the determination and leadership that defined his legacy. They can also explore in detail the three expeditions he led to the Antarctic, including the legendary Endurance expedition (1914–1917) where Shackleton managed to bring the entire crew home safely without the loss of a single life after their ship sank in a frozen sea hundreds of miles from civilisation.

 

Highlights include:

  • The actual cabin in which Ernest Shackleton died of a heart attack on the ship ‘Quest’ during the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition in 1922
  • The sledge and harness used on the Nimrod Expedition
  • Replica models of the Endurance and Quest ships as well as the James Caird lifeboat that rescued the crew after the Endurance shipwreck
  • A deeply immersive experience that allows visitors join the crew of the Endurance as they make their remarkable escape from the ice-bound ship, with crashing waves and wind effects making the journey feel as real as possible
  • A reconstructed 1920’s cinema showcasing archival footage and historic clips of Shackleton’s various expeditions and activities, bringing his amazing story vividly to life

Aline FitzGerald, General Manager of the Shackleton Experience, says: “We’re delighted to launch our new retail offering just in time for the festive season. Championing Irish designers and locally crafted pieces is incredibly important to us at Shackleton Experience, and it’s a real privilege to celebrate their creativity here. With our welcoming café open to all, it’s a wonderful place to meet up, enjoy a treat, and make a day of your Christmas shopping.”

Located less than an hour from Dublin and served by regular trains from Dublin’s Heuston Station, the Shackleton Experience in Athy, Co. Kildare is easily accessible from surrounding counties including Carlow, Laois, and Kilkenny.

 

The Shackleton Experience – Unmissable for families, schools, polar enthusiasts, culture and

history fans as well as adventure and endurance sports devotees

 

Visit shackletonexperience.ie to learn more about the Shackleton Experience