Aline Fitzgerald

Aline Fitzgerald is General Manager of the Shackleton Experience in Athy, Co. Kildare, the only institution in the world dedicated to the extraordinary life and achievements of Ernest H. Shackleton. Aline is an accomplished professional in the tourism, hospitality, and travel industries, with extensive experience in operations, business development, and corporate sales. Previously she has worked at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Chicago and was instrumental in the establishment of Four Seasons Hotel Dublin. Aline then moved to the GPO Museum on O’Connell Street where, as General Manager, she played a pivotal role in the launch of the museum in 2016.

Aline Fitzgerald will be speaking at the Museum Digital Summit 2026 :

The Shackleton Experience – Adventure in Interpretation

Opened in October 2025, The Shackleton Experience is the world’s only museum dedicated entirely to polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. In this talk, we’ll explore how exhibition designers at Mirador and the digital experience team Smartify partnered with Kildare County Council to create a fully integrated interactive experience. Moving visitors from stepping inside a recreated cinema, to feeling the weight of a fully loaded sleigh and touching simulated ice cold, while also offering an immersive visitor guide including four AR games and audio guide. We’ll explore how physical and digital interactives can complement each other without overwhelming the visitor, leaving them with a sense of having been on a polar adventure of their own.