Four stamps have been issued by An Post celebrating eight Irish men who played a significant role in the Antarctic expeditions of the 1800s and early 1900s.
They include Ernest Shackleton, who was born in Co Kildare, and Tom Crean, from Annascaul, Co Kerry, who have achieved worldwide recognition for their bravery and perseverance.
Five of the other six men featured on the stamps were from Co Cork - Edward Bransfield, Patrick Keohane and Robert Forde, as well as brothers Mortimer and Tim McCarthy.
The sixth explorer being honoured is Francis Crozier, who was from Banbridge, Co Down.
Illustrator David Rooney, who created the stamps, said he wanted them to shine a light on the impact these Irish men had on Antarctic exploration.
"Like most people I was aware of the Shackleton and Crean expeditions.
"It was fascinating to delve into the adventures of a figure like Francis Crozier, who set out in 1839 as commander of HMS Terror on the Ross expedition.
"Crozier, his ship and all of his crew were subsequently lost, along with Sir John Franklin, on their ill-fated search for the North West Passage in the Arctic just a few years later."
