Who We Are

Tom Crean

Crean was a member of three of the four major British expeditions to Antarctica during this period. After the Discovery Expedition he joined Captain Scott’s 1910 Terra Nova Expedition, which saw the race to reach the South Pole lost to Roald Amundsen. During this expedition Crean’s 56 km solo walk across the Ross Ice Shelf to save the life of Edward Evans led to him receiving the Albert Medal. His third Antarctic venture was the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition on Endurance led by Ernest Shackleton.

After the Endurance expedition Crean returned to the Navy, and when his naval career ended in 1920 he moved back to County Kerry. In his home town of Annascaul, he and his wife Ellen opened a public house called the “South Pole Inn”. He lived there quietly and unobtrusively until his death in 1938.

Aileen

Aileen Crean O’Brien is Tom Crean’s granddaughter. Aileen came to Kenmare to train as a chef in the world famous 5* Park Hotel but fell in love with Kenmare and later married the Michelin head chef Matt d’Arcy. They opened their restaurant and B&B in 1992 and ran it for 6 years. Then, due to the untimely death of Matt, Aileen left the business to bring up her young family. On her return in 2009, she refurbished and renamed the restaurant and accommodation in honour of her grandfather, the famous Irish Antarctic explorer Tom Crean.

Aileen continues to be an innovative chef 35 years after arriving in Kenmare.On her “winter travels” in India she met Bill Sheppard. They launched “Expedition Red Ale” in 2016 in honour of Tom Crean and their centenary expedition to South Georgia (see book Honouring Tom Crean by Bill). In November 2019 they built and opened the Tom Crean Brewery Kenmare at the rear of the restaurant.

Bill

Bill Sheppard was born in Chester in the northwest of England. He worked as a fire fighter in the London Fire Brigade before having to take early retirement because of a hearing problem “due to service”. He worked as an estate manager and sports coach for several years then later graduated from Chester University with a degree in Archaeology.

Having an interest in beer for most of his life the decision to retrain as brewer has been one that most beer drinkers would consider worthwhile. He enjoys extended travel to remote and far flung locations, sometimes much to the consternation of his family (given the countries he’s visited).

Tom Creans Journey

Tom Crean left the family farm near Annascaul in County Kerry to enlist in the British Royal Navy at the age of 15. In 1901, while serving on HMS Ringarooma in New Zealand, he volunteered to join Robert Falcon Scott’s 1901 British National Antarctic Expedition on Discovery, thus beginning a distinguished career as an explorer during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Tom Crean Brewery

It is no surprise that his granddaughter Aileen should follow in his footsteps in to the hospitality industry and in adventure. Running a restaurant with accommodation since 1992 in Kenmare and now joined by her son Cian. In 2016 Aileen, her partner Bill and her two sons attempted to replicate Tom’s 800 mile journey in the Southern Ocean and his traverse of South Georgia. Unfortunately, Aileen broke her leg on Crean Glacier and this lead to a different adventure. Discover their story by reading “Honouring Tom Crean” by Bill Sheppard

Bill and Aileen opened Tom Crean Brewery Kenmare at the rear of the restaurant in 2019. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the brewery or pop in for a drink between 5-7pm. The craft beers are available in the Ice Bar in Tom Crean Base Camp and in various venues in the town and throughout Kerry.