Film & Video Archive

About our Film Archive

About our Film Archive

A brief look at the history of film in ESB.
The construction of the Shannon Scheme, 1928

The construction of the Shannon Scheme, 1928

View original footage of the construction of the Shannon Scheme, filmed by Pathé in 1928.
7 minutes
North Wall (1949-present)

North Wall (1949-present)

This is an oil and gas station commissioned in 1949.
This is an active generating station.
Portarlington Peat Station, c.1950

Portarlington Peat Station, c.1950

Extract of dramatisation featuring a fictional young local farmer fascinated by the new peat generation station at Portarlington, Co. Laois.
9 minutes
Rural Electrification promotional film, c.1955

Rural Electrification promotional film, c.1955

Promotional film from the 1950s with updates on progress of Rural Electrification Scheme
3 minutes
Power for Progress, 1955

Power for Progress, 1955

Documentary detailing the story of ESB and electricity in Ireland from 1927-1955.
18 minutes
More Power to the Farmer, 1957

More Power to the Farmer, 1957

Film celebrating the Rural Electrification Scheme and its transformative benefits to rural Ireland.
17 minutes
Modern Living Country Style, 1961

Modern Living Country Style, 1961

Colour film shot at RDS Horse Show shows how good design and electrical appliances can raise living standards.
6 minutes
Power for Prosperity, 1963

Power for Prosperity, 1963

Film chronicles the development and impact of ESB and electricity in Ireland from the Shannon Scheme in 1927 to the
5 minutes
Cleanest Cooking, c.1964

Cleanest Cooking, c.1964

ESB television commercial promoting the benefits of electric cooking in the home.
28 seconds
ESB Showrooms and Service Centres, c.1964

ESB Showrooms and Service Centres, c.1964

ESB promotional film for showrooms and service centres highlighting the different assistance provided.
45 seconds
A Penny Buys a lot of Comfort, c.1964

A Penny Buys a lot of Comfort, c.1964

Television commercial highlighting how cost effective electricity can be when used for tasks in the home.
44 seconds
Electricity Helps in So Many Ways, c.1964

Electricity Helps in So Many Ways, c.1964

Television commercial depicting how electricity makes life easier for you and your family.
1 minute 4 seconds
Making Money from Clean Milk, 1966

Making Money from Clean Milk, 1966

Educational account of the techniques required to produce clean milk on a farms
24 minutes
Forty Light Years from Parteen, 1967

Forty Light Years from Parteen, 1967

An ESB/RTE documentary produced on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Electricity Supply Board.
45 minutes
Liquid Asset, 1967

Liquid Asset, 1967

Film explains how ESB can help get piped water into your rural home.
20 minutes
Electric Cooker Advertisement, c.1968

Electric Cooker Advertisement, c.1968

ESB television commercial promoting the benefits of electric cooking. 
20 seconds
Power for Tomorrow, 1968

Power for Tomorrow, 1968

Documentary with a futuristic theme, emphasising the contribution of electricity to industry, agriculture and domestic life.
12 minutes
Turlough Hill, Workers Accounts, 1972

Turlough Hill, Workers Accounts, 1972

Film on the construction of Turlough Hill looking at the design, engineering and technical skills and social aspect.
18 minutes
ESB Stocks Advertisement, 1975

ESB Stocks Advertisement, 1975

ESB advertisement advising the public of the opportunity to invest in new ESB stocks
45 seconds
Turlough Hill, Peak Power, 1975

Turlough Hill, Peak Power, 1975

Film documents the construction of Turlough Hill which took six years to build, at a cost of £21million.
22 minutes
Big E Campaign, 1976

Big E Campaign, 1976

Animated advertisement urging customers to use energy wisely and highlights the value of electricity, in comparison to other consumer items.
30 seconds
Big E Campaign 2, 1976

Big E Campaign 2, 1976

ESB animated advertisement highlighting the value for money offered by electricity in the use of domestic appliances.
30 seconds
ESB Stock Issue Advertisement, 1977

ESB Stock Issue Advertisement, 1977

ESB advertisement offering attractive returns to investors on the company's latest stock issue.
47 seconds
Poolbeg, Story of a Generation Station, 1977

Poolbeg, Story of a Generation Station, 1977

Documentary detailing the planning and construction of the oil fired power station at Poolbeg, Dublin
33 minutes
Off Peak, 1979

Off Peak, 1979

ESB advertisement encouraging consumers to use electricity during 'off peak' hours in order to conserve energy.
30 seconds
Off Peak 2, 1979

Off Peak 2, 1979

Advertisement encouraging consumers to use electricity during 'off peak' hours in order to conserve energy. Second advertisement in 'Off Peak' series.
30 seconds
ESB People Serving You, 1980

ESB People Serving You, 1980

ESB advertisement highlighting the range of services provided by ESB personnel.
1980, 1 minute
ESB Home Safety, 1981

ESB Home Safety, 1981

Advertisement providing guidelines on safe use of electricity in the home, with a free booklet available from ESB shops.
15 seconds
Night Storage Heaters, 1982

Night Storage Heaters, 1982

ESB television commercial regarding night rate heating and advertising the new ultra slim storage heaters.
30 seconds
Partners in Power, 1982

Partners in Power, 1982

Documentary highlighting the ESB’s overseas consultancy operations and the development of the electricity industry abroad.
11 minutes
Electricity is Real Value for Your Money, Sunday Dinner, 1983

Electricity is Real Value for Your Money, Sunday Dinner, 1983

Advertisement highlighting the cost effectiveness of electricity in comparison to other consumer items.
10 seconds
Electricity is Real Value for Your Money, Washing Machine, 1983

Electricity is Real Value for Your Money, Washing Machine, 1983

Advertisement highlighting the cost effectiveness of electricity in comparison to other consumer items.
10 seconds
ESB Stock Issue, 1983

ESB Stock Issue, 1983

ESB advertisement encouraging the public to avail of the opportunity to invest in the company's latest stock issue.
30 seconds
Electricity is Different, 1983

Electricity is Different, 1983

ESB promotional film depicting the various uses of electricity, its value for money and the benefits it brings to human
1 minute
WIN Electric Rehab Competition, 1984

WIN Electric Rehab Competition, 1984

Win Electric commercial encouraging prompt payment of bills by offering chances to win prizes and donations to charities.
26 seconds
So Clean So Nice, Cook Electric, 1984

So Clean So Nice, Cook Electric, 1984

Television commercial used as part of an ESB campaign emphasising the benefits of electric cooking.
30 seconds
Tomorrow’s Houses Today, 1984

Tomorrow’s Houses Today, 1984

A look at ESB’s energy efficient houses research project in Kilcock, Co. Kildare in co-operation with the EU.
19 minutes
Moneypoint Power From Coal, 1985

Moneypoint Power From Coal, 1985

Documentary detailing the construction and engineering milestones of Moneypoint Generation Station, Co. Clare, ESB’s first major coal burning generating station.
35 minutes
Karate Man, 1985

Karate Man, 1985

Commercial advertising price reductions for storage heating systems. Features karate man smashing electricity prices in half.
29 seconds
400kV Transmission Lines from Moneypoint, c.1986-1989

400kV Transmission Lines from Moneypoint, c.1986-1989

Documentary describing the construction of two 400kV transmission lines running from Moneypoint station to the east coast of Ireland.
19 minutes
Dance, 1986

Dance, 1986

Commercial depicting a girl preparing to go to a dance, highlighting how electricity and electrical appliances enhance quality of life.
38 seconds
Baby, 1986

Baby, 1986

Commercial depicting a father waking to feed his baby. Footage highlights how electricity enhances quality of life.
40 seconds
ESB Farm Safety, 1987

ESB Farm Safety, 1987

Animated advertisement highlighting the safe use of electricity on the farm.
30 seconds
WIN Electric Holiday Competition, 1987

WIN Electric Holiday Competition, 1987

Win Electric commercial encouraging customers to pay their bill within 14 days for a chance to win a holiday.
22 seconds
Task Force '87, 1987

Task Force ’87, 1987

Documents the work of the ESB in the restoration of power in the UK after a severe storm.
21 minutes
Going Back, 1988

Going Back, 1988

Commercial depicting a son returning home. Highlights how electricity enhances the quality of life.
1 minute 10 seconds
Switched on, Plugged in, 1989

Switched on, Plugged in, 1989

Educational documentary produced for ESB explaining the technical aspects of electricity generation and distribution and the contribution of ESB to
26 minutes
Nightsaver, 1990

Nightsaver, 1990

Television commercial with a catchy jingle, advertising lower night-time rates of electricity.
40 seconds
The Female Electrician, 1992

The Female Electrician, 1992

ESB film regarding career opportunities for female electricians and engineers.
12 minutes
24 Hours, 1992

24 Hours, 1992

Award winning film showing a typical working day for ESB staff and their commitment to customer service.
14 minutes
A Future in Fish, 1994

A Future in Fish, 1994

Documentary providing overview of ESB's salmon and eel programmes.
30 minutes
Death of the Banshee, 1996

Death of the Banshee, 1996

The story of Rural Electrification, narrated by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
47 minutes
Moving Eye, 1997

Moving Eye, 1997

Television commercial first aired in 1997. The company television ad campaign was filmed over eight days in November 1996 at
Moving Eye 2, 1998

Moving Eye 2, 1998

TV Commercial first aired 16 September 1998. This advertisement is the sequel to the first "Moving Eye" commercial, which first
Remote Control, 1998

Remote Control, 1998

Television advertisement first aired 1998. The commercial features a toddler watching a cartoon of a dog using electrical appliances in
Millennium, 1999

Millennium, 1999

ESB Millennium Ad, 26 November 1999. TV commercial marking ESB's Millennium celebration. This advertisement opens with three Irish landmarks from
Silent Partner, 2000

Silent Partner, 2000

TV advertisement first aired 2000. The advertisement shows a series of everyday scenes, (train stations, hairdressers, gyms, office blocks, shopping