New €7.5m Shackleton Experience Opens Its Doors In Athy Today

Friday, 10 October 2025 08:32

By Martin Osborne

The new facility represents a €7.5 million investment by Kildare County Council and is the only institution of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Shackleton Experience, a world-first visitor centre dedicated entirely to the life and achievements of legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton - who was born just outside Athy - will open today.

The new facility represents a €7.5 million investment by Kildare County Council and is the only institution of its kind anywhere in the world.

The Shackleton Experience sits at the heart of a wider regeneration plan that also includes the redevelopment of Emily Square, the Barrow Blueway, and the Athy Distributor Road.

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