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Turlough Hill 50th Anniversary

Join us for our Community Open Day to mark the 50th anniversary of our Turlough Hill generation station in Co Wicklow, Ireland’s only pumped storage power station,

 

ESB Thrill on the Hill Festival Community Day – Sunday 12th May, 2024

All guests attending Thrill on the Hill need to be registered, including children as spaces are limited.

Turlough Hill Pumped Hydro Station, Seven Churches, Glendalough, Co Wicklow A98 YN97

Enjoy the festival style atmosphere and fun activities including; a guided Cavern Tour, self-guided Turlough Hill exhibition, music from Gramophone Social, 70’s playlist, STEM activities, AR headsets, poetry, biodiversity worksheets, local artisan food and barista coffee, Instagram opportunities, facepainting and lots more.

Please note that pre-booking of the Cavern Tour time is essential. Children from 0-5 years are welcome but will not be permitted access on the tour.


  • Start by booking your Cavern Tour, this will determine your arrival time. 
  • All guests attending Thrill on the Hill will need to be registered, including children.  
  • Cavern Tours run throughout the day but pre-booking is essential as spaces are limited. 
  • Children 0-5 years are welcome but will not be permitted access to the Cavern Tour (there will be lots of other fun activities for them to enjoy). 
  • Once registered you will receive confirmation of your booking. 
  • Guests should arrive no later than 15 minutes before their scheduled Cavern Tour.  
  • Parking will be provided on site. 
  • The use of umbrellas is not permitted at Turlough Hill. 
  •  Many of the activities will take place out-of-doors so dress for the Irish weather! 









Enjoy the festival style atmosphere and fun filled activities including: 

  • Guide-led Turlough Hill Cavern Tour  
  • Self-guided Turlough Hill Exhibition  
  • ESB Archives: Artefacts & ephemera, Turlough Hill Oral History video, archival video footage 
  • AR Headsets: ESB Subsea and Network simulations 
  • STEM and biodiversity worksheets 
  • National Parks and Wildlife Service  
  • Composting demonstration
  • Music from Gramophone Social 
  • 70’s playlist 
  • Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, Poet 
  • Instagram opportunity  
  • Eco facepainting 
  • Local Artisan refreshments 
  • Barista coffee and sweet treats 






  

  

Turlough Hill is a working pumped storage hydro station which will be operational on the day of your visit. Guests should observe the signage in place and follow the guidance of your guide and station staff.  

  • During your guide-led Cavern Tour you will be required to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) including a hi-vis jacket, safety hat and safety glasses. These will be provided.  
  • The tour does not include access to the Upper Reservoir. 
  • Parents will be responsible for their children at all times.  

While every effort has been made to make Thrill on the Hill as Accessible as possible there are a number of inaccessible areas to be aware of: 


  •  The Cavern Tour is not accessible to wheelchair users as the emergency exit is via a flight of stairs.
  • The Cavern Tour is not suitable for prams and they will not be allowed access to the tunnel.
  • The Cavern Tour may not be suitable for those with claustrophobia.
  • The Turlough Hill Exhibition in the Administration Building is not accessible to wheelchair users. 
  • Thrill on the Hill festival zone is accessible to wheelchair users and wheelchair accessible toilet facilities will be available.  
In relation to people with Hearing or Visual Impairment there are parts of Thrill on the Hill which are not accessible but the remainder of the activities should still provide an enjoyable experience. 

 Age restrictions

Children 0-5 years are welcome however, they will not be permitted access on the Cavern Tour.  

Photography and videography will take place throughout the day.   If you do not wish your image to be captured, please make yourself known to a member of ESB staff on the day.  

 

A pumped storage hydroelectric system generates power by using two reservoirs at different elevations. When water is released from the upper to the lower reservoir, it flows down a pressure tunnel through reversible generation turbines, producing electricity. The water is then pumped back to the upper reservoir and stored until needed – a process that today is powered by renewable energy from wind turbines and solar panels.  

History of Turlough Hill

Learn all about the history of our Turlough Hill station including stories from workers, how electricity is generated and archive footage.

Visit ESB Archives