Accepting two volumes of the account of one of Shackleton’s expedition to the Antarctic, Cllr Richard Daly, leas Cathooirleach of Athy Town Council, spoke of how Shackleton’s example could be inspirational in today’s world.
Cllr Daly thanked Ram Doraiswamy for his kind gesture to the town of Athy in donating two first edition volumes of “The Heart of the Antarctic” to the Athy Heritage Centre.
“Mr Doraiswamy’s gifty to Athy is more than just two volumes of history. In times of adversity it is a text book of hope and leadership. World and national leaders would be well advised to study the leadership qualities of Earnest Shackleton, our local Antarctic explorer, who travelled the dangerous waters and frozen landscape attempting to reach the South Pole
The story of Ernest Shackleton is not simply one of an explorer but of a man who made things happen and who engendered th same belief in others. Among his many exploits Shackleton is best remembered for the expedition on the “Endurance”which presented his party with severe adversity.
When hope was at its lowest and when fortune seemed to have turned its back on him Shackleton galvanised the strengths of his team and fought incredible odds to ensure that his full company made their way home.
Today this leadership quality is needed more than ever. It is easy to be a great leader in favourable times. As we face uncertain and challenging times in our country and locally it is important that we remember the life threatening challenges of Shackleton who turned disaster into great fortune and who saw that everybody was rescued.
In our community we should take this message to heart and ensure that 2009 is a positive one for the town. Opportunities present themselves amid the gloom and it is important that we have enough optimism to grasp them.
Cllr Daly accepted the volumes on behalf of the town of Athy and repeated his thanks to Ram Doraiswamy, an Indian lawyer, who was donating the books in memory of his recently deceased mother
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