Mayo festival audience enchanted by tales about legendary explorer Tom Crean

A large crowd gathered at Mayo County Library during the Wild Atlantic Words Festival in Castlebar as British author Michael Smith spoke about his fascinating book on Irish explorer Tom Crean.

Smith, whose mother hailed from Ballaghaderreen, is an award-winning journalist, formerly of The Guardian and The Observer.

He enchanted an enthusiastic audience with tales about the Kerry-born seaman and Antarctic explorer.

In 2000, Smith published his first book 'An Unsung Hero – Tom Crean'.

He admitted to having issues getting it published, with one publisher telling him that no one in Ireland had an interest in Tom Crean.

Smith was glad it was 'a bad call', and it went on to become the number one best-selling non-fiction book in Ireland, and has been translated into multiple foreign languages as well as children's adaptation, which is on the curriculum in Irish schools.

The book, which has combined sales of 150,000, is primarily responsible for raising awareness of the role played by the Irishmen in polar exploration.

As a tribute to Crean, the Marine Institute of Ireland will launch a marine vessel named 'The Tom Crean' in honour of his accomplishments in the coming weeks, which Smith is personally delighted with as it will be the first time Crean is recognised in Ireland on a national scale.

Smith described Crean's journey as 'so many dramatic episodes in a dramatic life', first coming across the Kerry man when he first developed an interest in explorers.

When he began writing his own book, he knew it would be challenging Crean did not keep a diary or give press interviews when he was alive.

Born in 1877 in Gurtuchrane, Annascaul, Co. Kerry, Crean enlisted in the British Navy in 1893 and within six years had rose to petty officer, second class.

In 1901 he joined Robert Falcon Scott's ship Discovery which departed from New Zealand to sail to the Antarctic and became famous as the first official British exploration of the Antarctic.

Smith showed several pictures from expeditions Crean was a part of.

Notable among the pictures was his smile. Despite the hugely demanding journeys to the South Pole, he relished the challenges involved.

After retiring from the navy, he ran his pub, The South Pole Inn, with his wife and daughters.

Crean died in the Bon Secours Hospital, Co. Cork, in 1938 due to a burst appendix and there is statue of the late Crean in Annascaul.

Thanks to Smith's splendid book and the Marine Institute naming a vessel after him, Tom Crean's legacy is now getting the recognition it deserves and it will continue to grow.

The Wild Atlantic Words Festival continues daily until next Sunday.