THE ESB has unveiled plans for the proposed development of a “world-class” visitor attraction at Ardnacrusha Power Station, writes Dan Danaher.
Clare’s Dáil deputies have received a briefing on the project on Tuesday where it was confirmed the ESB is currently undertaking a feasibility study to establish the business case for a visitor experience at the site of Ireland’s first electricity generating station.
The plan includes a 360-degree virtual amphitheatre, a café, which will offer sustainable locally sourced food, a retail unit hosting local artisan crafts and products, and family oriented outdoor spaces.
Comprising five floor floors, the attraction seeks to inspire and educate through social, engineering, architecture and STEAM-related stories and interactive exhibits.
ESB first began facilitating public tours of its Ardnacrusha Power Station in June 1928, and welcomed more than 85,000 visitors within the first nine months.
To mark the 90th anniversary of its foundation, ESB revived this tradition in 2017 when visitors were welcomed to the Ardnacrusha Experience at the newly-refurbished visitors centre.
Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the ESB has been unable to facilitate any tours in 2020 and 2021.
Based on visitor numbers in recent years and positive feedback, ESB is carrying out research and identifying opportunities with a view of potentially enhancing the Ardnacrusha Experience.
Responding to Clare Champion queries, the company confirmed it is currently engaging with all relevant stakeholders to assess all options.
Once that is complete, a feasibility study will be undertaken, which includes all aspects of planning, site and market analysis.
Welcoming these plans, Deputy Michael McNamara believes the new Ardnacrusha Experience will deliver a unique project on a par with the best-”world-class” interactive visitor experiences.
“The Shannon hydroelectric Scheme, which led to the establishment of the ESB in 1927, was a major development by the Irish Free State to harness the power of the River Shannon at a time when the country had the second lowest consumption of electricity in Europe,” stated Deputy McNamara.

#OTD, 1929. “Intake building at Ardnacrusha after the head race has been filled with 3m of water.”#ShannonScheme #HydroElectric #1920s #Ardnacrusha pic.twitter.com/nxv0oIgybH

— ESB Archives (@ESBArchives) June 25, 2021

“The development of an iconic visitor project here would capitalise on the growth in popularity of heritage-based tourism and ultimately, provide a significant boost to the tourism sector in South- East Clare.
“As part of this work, the ESB is now commencing on a period of participatory stakeholder engagement to attain key input and feedback on the project plan. It is anticipated that this process of engagement will lead to a regional project with local and community beneficial impact.”
Deputy McNamara expressed confidence that there would be significant public interest in the development of a visitor experience at Ardnacrusha.
He noted there was scope to develop a heritage tourism project on a par with the ‘Titanic Experience’ in Belfast, which has delivered “significant, positive benefits for the city and Northern Ireland in general”.
“During my first term as a TD, I successfully appealed to the then Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte to encourage ESB to reinstate school tours at Ardnacrusha and I am delighted to see it has proven to be extremely popular.”
Clare County Councillor PJ Ryan has also been pushing for the development of a visitor project there over a long number of years,” said Deputy McNamara.
Deputy Cathal Crowe recalled when it was first built a century ago, Ardnacrusha was declared one of the wonders of the engineering world and for the decades that followed its construction, people flocked in their droves to see it for themselves.

When was your town electrified?⚡️

Find out with our interactive map at https://t.co/Ni4CGOlcbG 💡 pic.twitter.com/LP0iI21oJP

— ESB Archives (@ESBArchives) June 3, 2021

“It was a tourism destination in its own right. People would buy postcards in Barry’s Shop – which is still trading to this day – and send them home to their families.
“They would make day excursions on foot to the Ardnacrusha.
“A lot of current and former employees of the ESB still live in the locality and they’ve been very generous over the years in facilitating school visits on the site.
“There’s currently a very small museum on the site run on a voluntary basis, which is a great facility, but it is in need of modernising.
“I really hope the ESB push on with these plans – it would really improve the offering at Ardnacrusha and hopefully start to attract people back once again
“These days, there’s a huge emphasis on the STEM subjects in school – engineering, of course, being one of them.
“As a teacher, he believes as many school classes as possible should visit this site and look at how, a century ago, the people of Ireland had the foresight to generate electricity from renewable means.