Fulfilling a dream: Grand-daughter to reach South Pole in tribute to explorer Tom Crean

Folowing in his footsteps: Aileen Crean O’Brien in front of a picture of her grandfather in the Tom Crean Fish and Wine Restaurant in Kenmare. Photo: Domnick Walsh

Sinead Kelleher

The grand-daughter of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean will battle -30C temperatures later this year as she attempts to fulfil his dream of reaching the South Pole.

Aileen Crean O'Brien is the only Irish woman on an international team taking on the 240km trek to the South Pole this December. Her grandfather was turned back 270km from the South Pole by expedition leader Robert Scott on the Terra Nova expedition from 1910-13. Scott didn't survive the expedition and was beaten to the South Pole by a Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen.

Aileen will now finish the journey started by Crean more than 100 years ago. "I will hopefully do what he tried to do," she said.

Aileen is originally from Tralee but lives in Kenmare, Co Kerry, where she runs the Tom Crean Fish and Wine Restaurant.

As part of her preparations, one of her training routines is to pull tyres in a bid to strengthen her body for the journey ahead.