St Vincent’s enjoy visit to Shackleton Museum
Cha Chanders checking out the Shackleton Experience
PATIENTS, residents, staff and families from St Vincent's Hospital, Athy enjoyed a memorable and uplifting day out this week during a group visit to the Shackleton Museum, completely sponsored by the museum.
The museum sponsored free entry for 25 attendees from the hospital’s day care and residential services, including family members and friends. Staff tickets were allocated through a special draw, allowing carers to accompany patients and residents on the trip.
Artist, Cathy Callan said: “The outing was a wonderful success, engaging and enthralling. We had a really fun time together and shared so many new experiences.” Visitors were captivated by the historic artefacts, immersive exhibits and recordings of Shackleton’s voice played on an antique gramophone. A reconstruction of the explorer’s cabin and film installations were among the highlights.
The trip was organised as part of “An Bhearú,” a Creative Communities Award project led by Cathy Callan and supported by Creative Places Athy in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland and Kildare County Council.
Inspired by the nearby River Barrow and Athy’s traditions of storytelling and song, the project connects patients, staff and the wider community through creative exploration of memory, care and place.
“I arranged the group visit with kind help from Sinéad at the museum. Jenny Duggan and staff at the hospital then organised the trip,” said Ms Callan.
Ms Callan said the initiative highlights how creativity can support wellbeing and social connection.
Attendees travelled carefully from the hospital to the museum with assistance from staff and a hospital bus driver. Photographer Aisling Hyland from Kildare Nationalist documented the occasion before the group embarked on a guided tour led by museum guides Lisa and Adam.
Visitors showed particular interest in the full-scale replica of Shackleton’s lifeboat, the James Caird, and exhibits exploring early Antarctic exploration, including a hot air balloon used for aerial observation.
Further outings are already being planned. The group’s next trip will be a wheelchair-accessible barge excursion on the River Barrow led by local guide Cliff Reid of boattrips.ie, offering participants another opportunity to engage with nature and local heritage.
