A three man Irish team who spent time in Arctic arrives home.
The Irish Arctic Expedition team, painter Danny Osborne, physicist Gerry Wardell and writer John O'Mara, spent five months in relative isolation in the previously unexplored Canadian High Arctic at temperatures below 40 degrees celsius.
The explorers arrived back in Ireland with 18 boxes of specimens and information which they gathered from this remote Arctic region.
In the warm surroundings of Dublin Airport, they enjoyed a celebratory glass of champagne and recounted stories from their trip on Ellesmere Island, the most northerly land mass of the Canadian Arctic archipelago.
Their modes of transport varied depending on weather conditions and the season. To begin with, they travelled mainly by skidoo or skis. When the snow started melting, they travelled on foot. Accompanied on their journey by two pack dogs, Paddy and Nanook.
Gerry Wardell believes that their research will have very real scientific implications. John O'Mara plans to make a documentary film of their travels and discoveries. Danny Osborne will be exhibiting paintings he completed throughout the expedition.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 August 1981. The reporter is Michéal O'Briain.
