School Group tours are available from May 13th to June 28th 2024.
Teachers and pupils are welcomed to the Ardnacrusha Experience at the visitors’ centre before going out on site to view the impressive headrace canal, locks and tailrace. Once inside the station, the living heritage of the Shannon Scheme is brought to life through a series of animations which celebrate the history and impact of this iconic project. Visitors are given access to the very heart of the station with views of the turbine hall and a visit to the original control room. The guided tours can accommodate groups of up to 30 people and runs for approximately 90 minutes.
Ardnacrusha Tours 2024
Tours of our Ardnacrusha Power Station are back this Summer!
Ireland’s largest river hydroelectric scheme is once again opening its gates this Summer, offering an exciting and informative experience for all. We are inviting school groups and the public to come and explore one of Ireland's greatest engineering developments at Ardnacrusha Power Station in Co Clare.
Our Ardnacrusha generation station has played a critical role in enhancing Irish life since its construction more than 90 years ago, making progress possible through the electrification of the country.
As part of the Shannon hydro-electric scheme, Ardnascrusha took just four years (1925 to 1929) and 5,000 workers to build. Costing more than IR£5m to construct at the time - almost one-fifth of the entire annual budget - Ardnacrusha became a symbol of forward thinking in relation to harnessing Ireland’s natural resources. With the national grid constructed at the same time, the 86 MW capacity was then enough to meet the electricity demands of the whole country. Today, Ardnacrusha represents around 2% of our total installed capacity.
Almost a century later, ESB continues to lead the way towards a secure, sustainable future for Ireland through our Driven to Make a Difference: Net zero by 2040 strategy, readying the country for an affordable transition to a clean electric future.
School Group Tours
General Public Tours
Public tours are available from July 1st to September 6th 2024.
Visitors are welcomed to the Ardnacrusha Experience at the visitors’ centre before going out on site to view the impressive headrace canal, locks and tailrace. Once inside the station, the living heritage of Shannon Scheme is brought to life through a series of animations which celebrate the history and impact of this iconic project. Visitors are given access to the very heart of the station with unique views of the turbine hall and a visit to the original control room. The guided tours can accommodate individuals and groups of up to 30 people and runs for approximately 90 minutes.
- You will be required to wear Personal Protection Equipment (Hi-vis jacket; safety hat; safety glasses)
- While every effort has been made to make the Tour as Accessible as possible there are a number of inaccessible areas to be aware of:
- There are 86 steps to be negotiated up to the headrace canal, locks and tailrace and will not suit wheelchair users or anyone with mobility difficulties.
- The Visitors’ Centre and Main Station are accessible to wheelchair users albeit the space can be narrow. However, the Control Room is not accessible.
- In relation to people with Hearing or Visual Impairment there are parts of the exhibition which are not accessible but still an enjoyable experience.
- If you have a particular requirement please notify the booking office at least three weeks in advance.
- For booking queries please contact Carolyn Cousins at AIKEN, Carolyn@aikenpr.com
ESB Archive Content on The Shannon Scheme
Our Archives website is home to all information related to the development of The Shannon Scheme including interactive maps, photos and facts and figures.
Learn More