About ESB Archives

What we do

ESB’s history goes back almost as far as the founding of the State and is inextricably linked with the development of modern Ireland. Explore the ESB timeline.

Our story reflects the economic, social and cultural changes over nearly a century, and contains lessons and insights that remain relevant to the world we live in today and the decisions that are facing us.

The story of how ESB overcame the challenges of bringing electricity to the nation mirrors so many of the issues that we still face today, whether that is in making investment decisions and technology choices, or engaging with the public around new concepts and ideas.

Our new archive building in Finglas officially opened in January 2020. Researchers are welcome by appointment, please email us at esbarchives@esb.ie with your research queries.

Our collections

Throughout this site you will find collections of the following topics in EBS’s history:

• Shannon Scheme Development & Ardnacrusha
  
• Rural Electrification
  
• Generation Stations
  
• Advertising, books, annual reports.
  
• Audio visual material including photographs, film and oral histories

We are busy cataloguing to make further collections accessible. You can keep in touch with updates through our X and Instagram accounts.