The extremely popular Irish power plant located in County Clare is now offering free family tours until the 13th of September.
Following the phenomenal interest in last year’s tours, Ardnacrusha Power Station is inviting members of the public to visit and explore one of Ireland's greatest engineering developments.
Located in County Clare, the plant offers an exciting and informative experience suitable for all ages and best of all, it is completely free.
Costing more than £5m to construct at the time, Ardnacrusha opened its doors back in 1929. The power plant took four years to build - spending only one-fifth of the entire annual budget. It has since become a symbol of forward-thinking in relation to harnessing Ireland’s natural resources.
Visitors of the Ardnacrusha Experience will get to see the impressive newly refurbished visitors’ centre before getting suited and booted in Hi-vis jackets, a safety hat and safety glasses to view the hugely exciting headrace canal, locks and tailrace.
Inside the station, the educational living heritage of the Shannon Scheme is brought to life through a series of animated videos celebrating the history and impact of this iconic project, which took just over 5,000 men to build.
Tour groups will get to see the very heart of the station with superb views of the turbine hall, while also gaining access to the original control room.
Guided tours take place daily, accommodating groups of up to 30 people and run for approximately 90 minutes.
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 get out to the canal, locks and tailrace which will not suit those with mobility issues. The control room is not wheelchair accessible and other space around the visitor centre and the main station are narrow.
Talking about the The Ardnacrusha Experience, Alan Bane, Plant Manager at Ardnacrusha said it "tells the story of the power of electricity and its transformative impact on Irish life; it offers the opportunity for people to learn not just about the history of the plant dating back to its inception in the 1920s but also of ESB’s brighter future strategy which is leading the secure, affordable transition to a low-carbon energy future for Ireland."
"All of us who work at the plant has been very proud to open our gates to the general public. We look forward to welcoming school groups and indeed, all those with an interest in engineering, history and heritage for pre-booked visits over the summer."
The Ardnacrusha Experience public tours are available daily until September 13th and booking is essential.
