The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Growing calls to name Navy vessel after heroic Crean
AN ardent enthusiast of Antarctic explorer Tom Crean has called for an Irish Naval Vessel to be named after the heroic Annascaul man.
Tim Foley’s Change.org page ‘Name an Irish Naval Ship in honour of Tom Crean’ was only set up four days ago, but has already drawn in over 1,000 signatures. Once complete, the petition will be delivered to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Michael D Higgins.
“There is currently a new Offshore Patrol Vessel being built in Devon for the Irish Navy, Tim said.
“It is due to be delivered in 2018, and the Taoiseach also spoke of his desire to commission the building of a multi-purpose ship for humanitarian purposes.
“Both of these vessels could meet the goal of our campaign to honour Crean if either was named after him,” he added.
Tim is based in Manchester, but his father was born in Keel. Tim has done much to promote Crean’s story; his Facebook page ‘Ireland Should Honour Tom Crean’ has garnered more than 22,000 followers since it was set up in 2011, and between that and Tim’s other social media efforts, the online following far exceeds 30,000 people from all over the globe
While Tim said a lack of recognition wasn’t something that would’ve troubled ‘a man as humble as Crean,’ Tim himself has always maintained more should be made of the renowned Kerry explorer.
“Crean exemplified humanitarianism having saved the lives of 28 men over three separate expeditions to the Antarctic in the early 1900s,” he said.
“People in Annascaul have worked tirelessly to honour him, to their credit. But Ireland has not officially recognised Crean since he passed in 1938. Naming a ship after him is an opportunity to right a wrong and satisfy the demands of his growing worldwide following.”
The actor Donal Logue, star of Vikings and Gotham was among the first to sign, commenting “Tom Crean is the epitome of a Kerryman - he is a world treasure”
No closing date has been set for the petition, but after its impressive start, Tim is confident of attracting a huge backing.