A group of Irish antarctic exploration enthusiasts yesterday spent a total of €38,000 on historic items which belonged to Cork- born Polar explorer Patrick Keohane.

The items cost €3,000 more than the Irish bidders had to spend, but the driving force behind the venture, Dingle man Michael O’Shea, said the outcome had ensured that important exploration memorabilia was co ming back home. For the past eight years, Mr O’Shea has been campaigning to highlight the important role played by Irish figures in historic polar exploration. Yesterday, having drummed up donations worth €35,000 from like minded enthusiasts, he headed off to Christies auction rooms in London with his sights set on a compass which was used by the legendary Co Kildare born explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Posted: 09|22|05 at 8:51 am. Filed under: Auction News.