Europe at Work – Ardnacrusha Memories Virtual Collection Days hosted by the Hunt Museum

The Hunt Museum, Limerick in collaboration with ESB Archives, Europeana, EuropeanExpo2020 are hosting virtual collection days to collect stories, personal archives, objects and memorabilia about the Shannon Hydro-Electric Scheme at Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare. Jill Cousins, Director of the Hunt Museum said, “We are asking anyone with connections to the Shannon Scheme at Ardnacrusha and their… Continue Reading


You’re living in 1935

A selection of printed pamphlets published in the 1920s and 1930s, during the rollout of the Shannon Scheme.


Electricity in Ireland pre-ESB

Read more about electricity in Ireland before the establishment of ESB, from our internal magazine Prospect, November 1981.


WT Cosgrave TD

William Thomas Cosgrave (1880–1965), President of the Executive Council during the construction of the Shannon Scheme.


Otto Uitting

Otto Uitting (1897–1962), leading Siemens engineer on Shannon Scheme project.


Harald Wallem

Harald Wallem (1869–1954), Siemens representative to Irish Government for the Shannon Scheme project.


Connecting Mayo to the national grid

Electricity in the county before ESB Mayo had electricity before the establishment of ESB in 1927. ESB’s annual reports record 10 local electricity suppliers in the county — that means 10 individuals or companies who had permits to commercially supply electricity to 3 or more homes and businesses in their local area. The reports do… Continue Reading


Connecting Ireland to the National Grid 1927—1978: Note on sources & explanation of terms.

We provide below an explanation of the field Information displayed on our map/database and where it was sourced from. Location: Location refers to either a city, town, suburb, village, ESB rural area, island* or ESB generation station connected to the grid between 1927 and 1978. County: The county of the above location. Note, a small… Continue Reading


Connecting Carlow

Electricity in the county before ESB Carlow had electricity before the establishment of ESB in 1927. ESB’s annual reports record 4 local electricity suppliers in the county — that means 4 individuals or companies who had permits to commercially supply electricity to 3 or more homes and businesses in their local area. The reports do… Continue Reading


Connecting Westmeath to the national grid

Electricity in the county before ESB Westmeath had electricity before the establishment of ESB in 1927. ESB’s annual reports record 6 local electricity suppliers in the county — that means 6 individuals or companies who had permits to commercially supply electricity to 3 or more homes and businesses in their local area. The reports do… Continue Reading