BEST IN EUROPE AWARD FOR SHACKLETON EXPERIENCE

Aline FitzGerald, right, accepting the award.

The Shackleton Experience in Athy has been awarded Best Europe Tourism Project 2026 at the British Guild of Travel Writers International Tourism Awards. Since its October 2025 opening, the attraction has welcomed 30,000 visitors from over 25 countries. 

The award was presented at the Guild’s Gala Awards Dinner in London on 2 November, ahead of World Travel Market.“We are thrilled to receive this prestigious accolade just over a year after opening," says General Manager Aline FitzGerald, from Brannockstown and a former student at CPC. "It is a phenomenal tribute to every single person who helped bring the Shackleton Experience to life. Shackleton’s legendary story truly has a worldwide audience, and we are so proud to showcase it right here in Athy, in his home county.” 

Located in Athy’s historic Town Hall, the experience showcases Ernest Shackleton’s life through interactive exhibits and over 200 artefacts, including his cabin and the sledge from the Nimrod Expedition. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Antarctic challenges faced by Shackleton’s crew.  

For more information, visit shackletonexperience.ie.

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