tarboat's photos with the keyword: clare

This interesting building was erected for the storage and packing of eels caught on the Shannon around Killaloe. The lower floor of the eel house is made up of tanks with mesh sides, which the river can flow through; eels can be kept alive there. There are walkways between the tanks. The eel fishery is now closed and the emphasis is on eel conservation.

The 999grt bulk cargo ship Matrisha was launched in Japan in 1976 and, after a number of name and ownership changes, was wrecked after running aground on the south coast of Ireland. After salvage the hulk was towed to this remote quay on the Shannon estuary where it was used to store cement for a number of years. It was lying quietly rusting and awaiting its fate. The ship was finally cut up and scrapped in 2011.

The Shannon hydro-electric scheme was constructed between 1925 and 1929 to harness the power of the river where it underwent a fall of nearly 35 metres in the final stages of its route to tidal waters at Limerick. The civil engineering works were undertaken by the German company Siemens-Schuckertwerke and on completion the power station at Ardnacrusha was the largest hydro-electric generating plant in the world. Initially there were three vertical shaft Francis turbine generators installed and in 1934 a single vertical shaft Kalan turbine generator was added, giving a total output of 85mw from an average head of 28.5 metres.

This kiln at Reddan's Quay, Tuamgraney, was built in 1913 to provide lime for the Raheen Estate and local farmers. It operated until the 1950s.

This kiln at Reddan's Quay, Tuamgraney, was built in 1913 to provide lime for the Raheen Estate and local farmers. It operated until the 1950s.

The rather unimposing entrance to the generating hall of the Ardnacrusha power station is via the doors on the left. The building was constructed by Siemens-Schuckertwerke and was completed in 1929.

It is only in the past couple of years that the control room at the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station has been taken out of use. Generation is now controlled remotely, but the Siemens built 1929 vintage equipment remains in situ.

An unusual railway is that to carry the machine for clearing debris from the screens over the turbine intakes at the Ardnacrusha power station on the Shannon. The machine is very broad gauge with the other rail just visible along the fence on the left. The centre two rails are for the wagon that carries the detritus.

This appears to be the point where the electricity generated at the Ardnacrusha power station sets off for the various areas that the Irish National Grid serves.

The Shannon hydro-electric scheme was constructed between 1925 and 1929 to harness the power of the river where it underwent a fall of nearly 35 metres in the final stages of its route to tidal waters at Limerick. The civil engineering works were undertaken by the German company Siemens-Schuckertwerke and on completion the power station at Ardnacrusha was the largest hydro-electric generating plant in the world. Initially there were three vertical shaft Francis turbine generators installed and in 1934 a single vertical shaft Kalan turbine generator was added, giving a total output of 85mw from an average head of 28.5 metres.

Until the opening of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station in 1929, the navigation of the Shannon passed through O'briensbridge. For many years there was no towpath under the bridge and the navigation arch was the fourth one out from the Clare bank. To enable boats to safely negotiate the bridge whilst coming upstream a capstan was provided on a pier in the river and boats were hauled through on a rope. Later modifications to the bridge reduced the number of arches and also created a towpath. The surviving capstan is aligned with the towpath arch and was still in use until O'briensbridge was cut off from through navigation in 1929. More detail about the capstans can be found on this interesting site run by Brian Goggin.

It is only in the past couple of years that the control room at the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station has been taken out of use. Generation is now controlled remotely, but the Siemens built 1929 vintage equipment remains in situ.

The destination of the different three phase lines is marked on the wall of the generating hall at the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station.

The building of the Shannon hydroelectric scheme in the late 1920s required navigation to be maintained down to Limerick after the Parteen Weir cut off the old route via O'Briensbridge. This was achieved by building a double staircase lock at the Ardnacrusha power station. Taken from the top level this shows the lower lock which has a fall of 34ft whilst the top lock has a fall of 68ft. This is the deepest lock in Britain and Ireland.

The 102ft fall at the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station on the Shannon is overcome for navigation by a two-rise staircase lock. The falls are 68ft and 34 ft. Looking up from lower chamber as the water begins to flow out the steel guillotine gate from the upper lock can be seen whilst the curved concrete wall above gives an idea of the height of the first chamber.

The Shannon hydro-electric scheme was constructed between 1925 and 1929 to harness the power of the river where it underwent a fall of nearly 35 metres in the final stages of its route to tidal waters at Limerick. The civil engineering works were undertaken by the German company Siemens-Schuckertwerke and on completion the power station at Ardnacrusha was the largest hydro-electric generating plant in the world. Initially there were three vertical shaft Francis turbine generators installed and in 1934 a single vertical shaft Kalan turbine generator was added, giving a total output of 85mw from an average head of 28.5 metres.

Concrete batching plant and blondin system in use during the construction of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric scheme on the Shannon. The project was run by Siemens and during construction, 5,000 men were employed, 65 miles of railway, including a line up from Limerick, were built, four major bridges were constructed and nine rivers and four streams were diverted. Postcard view c1928.

Moneypoint on the Clare side of the Shannon estuary is one of Ireland's largest generating stations. Commissioned in 1985, It is coal fired and produces a maximum of 915 megawatts. It consumes two million tonnes of coal per year.