An Post has issued four stamps celebrating eight Irish men who played a significant role in the epic Antarctic expeditions of the 1800s and early 1900s. Irish men were at the heart of the pioneering expeditions to Antarctica.
County Kildare-born Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean, from Annascaul, Co Kerry, are two of the better-known explorers and have achieved worldwide recognition for their bravery and perseverance. The other six men featured on the stamps, five from Cork, are perhaps less well known but no less important in the contributions they made to Antarctic exploration.
They include Edward Bransfield from Ballincurra, Patrick Keohane, Courtmacsherry, Robert Forde, Bandon, brothers Mortimer, and Tim McCarthy, Kinsale, and Francis Crozier, Banbridge.
The four stamps, two for national postage and two for international, and a First Day Cover envelope are available at selected post offices and anpost.com The stamps were designed by leading Irish Illustrator David Rooney.
