Snow and a cold start to the new year see peak demands on the hydroelectric power station at Ardnacrusha.
Falls of snow over the new year see Electricity Supply Board (ESB) repair crews called out. The crews often in blizzards work to ensure essential services are maintained. Where supply has been disrupted, the aim is to get them to their normal working state as quickly as possible.
The hydroelectric power station at Ardnacrusha on the River Shannon lies six kilometres north of Limerick in County Clare. The snow, means the link between the power station and Cork city is broken at the start of the new year. Workmen toil around the clock to repair the break to ensure there is no immediate danger to supply to the city.
Nevertheless the ESB requests firms to reduce their peak consumption to avoid the possibility of cutting supply to certain suburbs of the city.
Since the power station at Ardnacrusha was officially opened in July 1929 it's annual use has grown from 40 million units to over 2,500 million units. ESB Chairman Thomas Murray recently announced the issue of a new loan of £7,000,000 for more development as "the demand for electricity seems to be endless".
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 January 1963. The footage shown here is mute.
