Character Profiles: Beyond Endurance
At the beginning of 2006 an advertisement appears in the newspaper - "Explorers wanted: ordinary men and women wanted for an extraordinary adventure". 700 intrigued Irish men and women responded to this advertisement in national newspapers. Only 24 places are available.
The ultimate aim is to bring 24 ordinary but capable people to Antarctica and South Georgia Island to follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his team when he traversed the island to reach safety for himself and the crew of his ship, the Endurance. Our characters explain why Shackleton and Crean have captured their imagination. For them, this will be a journey in which they reclaim Shackleton for Ireland - for years he and his crew were considered 'British' due to the affiliation with the British navy. In Kerry, Crean's exploits went unnoticed during his lifetime.
For our armchair explorers, this is one time in their lives when they will get to live out a dream.
Some key participants:
Clifford Reid (27)
Mature Student - Kildare
Cliff is a student who lives near Shackleton's birthplace in Athy, County Kildare. His determination that someone from the hero's area should be on the expedition back-fired when the finger was pointed at himself.
"I hadn't even walked up a hill, never mind tried an expedition, but I was persuaded to give up the drink and the fags and give it a go."
Cliff has no money, no experience. and no idea. His habit of cutting corners, (for example, he reveals in the middle of the Atlantic that he hasn't all the right gear.) frequently gets him into trouble.
Mary Casey (57)
Social work manager - Cork, via Donegal.
Mary Casey, the mountaineering mother of four, is originally from Donegal and now works at Cork University Hospital. She is small, wiry, strong and opinionated, with a great sense of fun. "They say a woman of my age should know better. I say it's because I am a woman of my age that I do know better, do it better, and relish the challenge.!"
She has been trekking in far-flung places, but is a bit of a loner and doesn't like being part of a big group. She has to face spending weeks on end training with the other 'wannabes', be stuck on a boat for three weeks with 80 other people, and face extreme conditions with nothing but a tent for protection.
Jeremiah Aherne (57)
Retired fireman - Cork
Jeremiah has a handlebar-moustache and a penchant for playing the bagpipes. The former fireman became captivated by the idea of Antarctic travel when he read Michael Scott's book 'Unsung Hero' about the exploits of Tom Crean.
"I started reading it and I couldn't put it down. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I decided, no matter how, I must find a way to get to Antarctica."
Jerry was afraid that age was against him and that younger, fitter people would be chosen. Every weekend Jerry sets off into the Cork and Kerry mountains weighed down by forty copies of the National Geographic in his rucksack. for weight training, of course.
Enda Wright (35)
Truckdriver - Westmeath
The Westmeath lorry driver quickly earned himself the nick-name 'horse' because of his incredible physique and ability to carry huge weight without breaking sweat. In his spare time he rides motorbikes at break-neck speed, and is in the Guinness book of records for performing the world's fastest 'armchair wheelie' (108 MILES per hour, no less, with his legs over the handlebars!!)
However, he does have an Achilles heel. The expedition tough guy squeals like a baby when getting into freezing cold water during a training weekend. and this is in Kerry, not the Antarctic. "I was cold before I even got in" he complains.
Enda is a contradiction in terms: In character, down to earth, safe as houses. In action, stark raving mad.
Eithne Casey (53)
Barrister - Dublin
Despite her profession, Eithne becomes completely ditzy when she dresses in mountain gear. It's as though the clothes affect her brain - like wonder woman in reverse. Just to throw another spanner in the works, she also only has limited use of one lung. To say the odds are against her is an understatement, but she battles though a number of assessments with a determination that belies her limitations in other ways. She embodies the spirit of all who try to make the team - the 'give it everything you've got, and then some more' approach. She is a great and bubbly talker - perfect interview material.
She is like a mother hen, fussing over the other team members and cheering them on - taking great unselfish delight in their achievements. In fact, she even wears a chicken-shaped balaclava, complete with plastic eyes and a beak - to raise morale.???
Gerry Christie (58)
Morgue technician - Kerry
When he isn't dealing with dead bodies, Gerry is trying to keep people alive by working for Kerry mountain rescue. He is made a 'team leader' but is horrified at the apparent level of incompetence demonstrated by some of the expedition hopefuls. A proper little firebrand, Gerry always tackles issues head on, including a memorable confrontation with Expedition leader Pat Falvey.
"You are giving these people false aspirations. It would be positively dangerous to take some of them across South Georgia, and you have to tell them!" (Pat responds with one of his wonderful malapropisms. "My hands are gagged!")
Gerry has a gift for articulating his experiences. His language is almost poetic as he adds great depth and meaning to what the group is achieving as they walk in the footsteps of Ireland's Antarctic heroes. One thing you have to give Gerry - respect!
Katie Buchanan (46)
Civil Servant - Dublin
Katie's mother was a Shackleton before she married, giving Katie the ultimate kudos of being a relative of the great man. Never attempting to be one of the expedition team, Katie was content to join the 'support team,' (a polite name for the tourists on the trip). Her presence made the trip particularly special for everyone, and her good nature and ability to smoke fags on deck on even the most icy sub-zero nights showed she is as dedicated, in her own way, as the rest. The fact that Katie's bag went missing on the outward journey denied her the chance to put the few stones she had gathered from Ernest Shackleton's birthplace on his grave, but the whole experience was still deeply moving for her.
"I spoke with mum on the satellite phone, and we were both in tears. I didn't expect to be as moved by the family connection as I was."
