Shannon Hydro Scheme

The Shannon hydro scheme marked the beginning of the electrification of Ireland. It harnessed the power of the River Shannon and led to the setting up of the country’s Electricity Supply Board.

The scheme was the brainchild of Irish engineer Thomas McLaughlin, who worked for the German firm Siemens Schukert in Berlin. McLaughlin persuaded the Irish government to build a single power station near the village of Ardnacrusha on the banks of the Shannon. His plan diverted the river down a man-made canal to a waterfall that would drive the power station’s turbines. At the time, the scheme was one of the largest civil engineering projects in the world.

The Shannon Hydro scheme has brought a reliable supply of electricity to much of Ireland which speeded up the country’s commercial and industrial development.

To learn more about the Shannon Hydro Scheme click here: https://www.ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-...