We are currently researching electricity connections to Ireland’s islands. We will continue to add connection dates to our database as we gather more information. If you have information on a particular island that you would like to share, please contact esbarchives@esb.ie. The information below provides an overview of the supply of electricity to Ireland’s islands.… Continue Reading
Millennium, 1999
ESB Millennium Ad, 26 November 1999. TV commercial marking ESB’s Millennium celebration. This advertisement opens with three Irish landmarks from around the country: the Poulnabrone dolmen, County Clare, The Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary, and the Customs House, Dublin City. The commercial then shows clips from ESB documentaries, including footage of the Shannon Scheme, along… Continue Reading
Moving Eye 2, 1998
TV Commercial first aired 16 September 1998. This advertisement is the sequel to the first “Moving Eye” commercial, which first aired in 1997. Both advertisements feature panning cameras with “pace and momentum” and smooth transitions between scenes. They feature shots of electricity being used in all ranges of Irish and international life. Both commercials share… Continue Reading
Moving Eye, 1997
Television commercial first aired in 1997. The company television ad campaign was filmed over eight days in November 1996 at locations from Dublin to Hook Head in Wexford and in County Wicklow. Over 100 extras were involved in the filming and this total does not include the 36 greyhounds, who ran themselves ragged around Shelbourne… Continue Reading
ESB Home Safety, 1981
Advertisement providing guidelines on safe use of electricity in the home, with a free booklet available from ESB shops.
Silent Partner, 2000
TV advertisement first aired 2000. The advertisement shows a series of everyday scenes, (train stations, hairdressers, gyms, office blocks, shopping malls, laundrettes) which were created to specifically draw the viewers attention to our ‘Silent Partner’. The advertisement is intended to demonstrate how electricity is an integral part of our daily lives by stripping these scenes… Continue Reading
Remote Control, 1998
Television advertisement first aired 1998. The commercial features a toddler watching a cartoon of a dog using electrical appliances in colourful scenes. The child accidentally presses the TV remote and turns off the television. The toddler frowns in disappointment, but when his mother switches the television back on, his face brightens up. The advert closes… Continue Reading
North Wall (1949-present)
This is an oil and gas station commissioned in 1949.
ESB and Group Water Schemes
ESB has always been invested in improving the quality of Irish daily life. Today, ESB connects approximately 2.4 million homes and businesses to electricity throughout the country. However, ESB’s impact extends beyond just providing power, as is demonstrated by its role in Group Water Schemes (GWS) in Ireland, established to ensure a reliable and sustainable… Continue Reading
Power to Rural No 1
A new book tells the story of Oldtown, the first village to be electrified under the Rural Electrification Scheme. In 2022, the Oldtown Community Council organised a number of events to mark the 75 years since Oldtown became the first village connected by the Rural Electrification Scheme. The North Co Dublin village was part of… Continue Reading
Steam Power
When the Shannon Scheme was under construction in the late 1920s, many of its opponents argued that it would be a ‘white elephant’, producing electricity that would never be used. Of course, within years, these critics were proved wrong as demand for electricity grew so much that ESB had to construct additional hydro schemes at… Continue Reading
St Patrick’s Day Floats from ESB
A look back at some of our floats from St Patrick Day parades
February covers of ESB Journal
View a selection of February covers 1959-1970 from our staff magazine ESB Journal, which was published monthly by ESB’s Personnel Department.
January covers of ESB Journal
View a selection of January covers 1959-1970 from our staff magazine ESB Journal, which was published monthly by ESB’s Personnel Department.
November covers of ESB Journal
View a selection of November covers 1958-1969 from our staff magazine ESB Journal, published monthly by ESB’s Personnel Department.
October covers of ESB Journal
View a selection of October covers 1958-1970 from our staff magazine ESB Journal, published monthly by ESB’s Personnel Department.
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