Tom Crean was born outside Anascaul, Co. Kerry in 1877. One of eleven children from a small farming family, Crean grew up in a world where Antarctica was still a largely unknown continent.Although overlooked by history, Crean went on to become one of the most distinguished Antarctic explorers of his age. Over the course of his life he would play a key role in several attempts to reach the South Pole. With very limited protective clothing he frequently found himself battling temperatures of -60 C(-76 F). Through these trials he emerged as a tenacious and courageous figure. The stories of Crean's endurance and will to survive are at times unbelievable.In this episode I interview Michael Smith. His book An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor brought the remarkable life of Crean to public attention after nearly a century in obscurity.Sound by Jason Looney See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/irishhistory.