Retirement and passing Archives - Tom Crean Book - 'Crean - The Extraordinary Life Of An Irish Hero'

Among the many names included in those mentioned at the funeral announcement of Tom Crean in 1938, was one who appeared in the messages of sympathy. Commander Donal Bernard O’Connell who had, two years earlier, retired as a Captain from the Royal Navy, intrigued me. Donal happened to be the […]

General Retirement and passing

The acquaintance of Tom Crean who preserved Kerry’s Antiquities

Tom Crean’s Funeral and Burial On July 28th, 1938, the funeral of Tom Crean took place. He was laid to rest in the family tomb he himself had built. His body had been transported back to his birthplace soon after he drew his last breath in neighbouring County Cork. The […]

Retirement and passing

The Funeral of Tom Crean

This image you see here is the last known photograph taken of Tom Crean. 84 years ago to this day, the death of Tom Crean, Ireland’s unheralded hero, occurred in County Cork In a sad twist of fate, when his own hour of need arrived, there was no […]

General Retirement and passing

The Death of Tom Crean – 27th July 1938

Oral History - Tom Crean - by his friends

One of the sources I used when researching and writing Tom Crean’s biography was the Oral history archive compiled and created by Irish Life and Lore. (1) The importance of these interviews cannot be understated as a number of the interviewees provide a direct link to the past. In the case […]

General Retirement and passing

Oral History – Coming to Shackleton’s Aid

A cottage similar to one in which Tom Crean was born

Compiling a picture from the 1901 Census It’s unfortunate for us that Census records for the era closest to Tom Crean’s birth date aren’t available – both the 1881 and 1891 Censuses, which would have included further information on Tom Crean, were destroyed after a decision was made to pulp […]

General Retirement and passing Tom Crean's Early Years

Gortacurraun – Tom Crean’s birthplace

The holy Scapula he carried with him to the grave

Tom Crean – The Final Journey Built by his own hands, in a corner of a graveyard in Ballynacourty, close to his Annascaul birthplace, lies the final resting place of Tom Crean. He was laid to rest still wearing his precious scapular. His faith meant so much to him he’d […]

Retirement and passing

Tom Crean’s Final Journey

Men from different classes who were a class Irish double act. There’s little doubt that song and humour played a vital part in the historic story of survival that brought about the greatest rescue in Polar history and that Tom Crean and Sir Ernest Shackleton were often centre-stage in providing […]

Discovery Expedition 1901-1904 Endurance Expedition 1914-16 Retirement and passing