Asgard Legacy - Niall McCann

Mount Asgard is one of the most iconic and recognisable mountains on earth. Located inside the Arctic Circle on Canada’s Baffin Island, it was first climbed in 1953, in an expedition led by Founder’s Medal winner Colonel Patrick Baird, who named it Asgard: Home of the Gods. 

Seven decades later, Colonel Baird’s grandsons, Niall and Finn McCann, return to the Arctic in honour of their grandfather’s legacy and attempt to climb the mountain he had named. 

This talk charts the early history of mountaineering on Baffin Island, with images and stories from the pioneering expeditions of the 1950s and 1960s, then follows the adventurous lives of Niall and Finn McCann, through triumph and tragedy, culminating in their expedition to Baffin Island in July 2025.  

About the speaker

Dr Niall McCann is a National Geographic Explorer, adventurer and Mountain Rescuer, who has been leading multi-disciplinary expeditions to the far-flung parts of the planet for over 25 years.

Niall is also an award-winning broadcaster, and a global authority on conservation, whose anti-poaching work has been credited with saving two populations of endangered species from extinction.

In 2016 Niall broke his back in a speed flying accident, leaving him with a permanent spinal cord injury that affects every aspect of his life. In the years since his injury Niall has found ways to overcome his disability and has returned to a life of adventure and exploration.

Booking information

Monday night lectures are open to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership.

Attending in-person

• All Fellows and Members wanting to attend in person must pre-book a free ticket. You will receive an e-ticket with a QR code that will be scanned on arrival. Your ticket can be shown on a mobile phone or printed. If you do not have a smartphone, we can find your name on the door list instead.
• Doors open at 5.30pm. Please use the Society's entrance on Exhibition Road. The lecture will begin at 6.30pm.
• Monday night lectures are held in person in the Ondaatje Theatre. The bar will be open in the Map Room before and after the lecture. Please be advised all payments are card only.
• The Ondaatje Theatre is fitted with a hearing loop. For the best quality sound we recommend sitting on the outside rows of the front seating section.
• There is step free access to the theatre. Wheelchair spaces can be booked in advance. If you have any questions about the venue, please contact events@rgs.org

Watch online

• You do not need to pre-book to watch the lecture online.
• All Monday night lectures are livestreamed via our website so you can watch them from wherever you are.

If you have any questions or require assistance with your booking, please email events@rgs.org

Accessibility at our events

We want everyone to feel welcome at our events. Key accessibility features of this event include:

• Step-free access to the event
• Accessible toilets
• Assistance dogs are welcome
• Hearing loop

For full details, please visit our accessibility page. If you have any questions or specific access requirements, feel free to get in touch with us on access@rgs.org

About Monday night lectures

Our Monday night lectures are exclusive to Fellows and Members and are included in the cost of membership. Members can book to attend the lectures in-person at the Society, or enjoy them live from the comfort of your own home.

These lectures are also recorded and uploaded to our website solely for members to catch up on whenever they like. If you would like to receive a weekly reminder email about the upcoming Monday night lecture, please sign up to our Updates about our Monday night lectures newsletter.