Athy’s newly redeveloped Shackleton Experience was officially opened today by Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD.

The museum, housed in the town’s 300-year-old former town hall, celebrates the life of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, who was born nearby.

The project received €5.2 million in funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), with an additional €1.76 million provided by Kildare County Council. The museum features the world’s largest collection of Shackleton memorabilia, including an immersive exhibition tracing the explorer’s Antarctic expeditions.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Calleary said the museum would serve as a major tourism draw for Athy and contribute to the town’s regeneration. He also highlighted the inclusion of research and education facilities as part of the development.

The Minister used the occasion to announce a new round of RRDF funding, with €20.5 million allocated to 30 Category 2 projects across rural Ireland. These include €163,000 for Kildare County Council to complete planning and design work for the regeneration of Monasterevin Market Square.

The RRDF is a key component of the Government’s Our Rural Future strategy and Town Centre First policy. It supports large-scale capital projects aimed at revitalising towns and villages with populations under 10,000. To date, the fund has provided €593 million for 243 projects nationwide.