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River Liffey

Aerial view of power stations on River Liffey in county Kildare and Wicklow

The River Liffey Scheme is made up of three separate power stations:

Aerial View of Golden Falls power station in County Kildare

Station: Golden Falls
County: Kildare
Fuel type: Hydro
Capacity: 4MW
Status: Active
Commissioned: 1943

Aerial view of Poullaphouca power station in County Wicklow

Station: Poulaphuca
County: Wicklow
Fuel type: Hydro
Capacity: 30MW
Status: Active
Commissioned: 1944

Aerial view of Leixlip power station in County Kildare

Station: Leixlip
County: Kildare
Fuel type: Hydro
Capacity: 4MW
Status: Active
Commissioned: 1949

Each of the Liffey hydro stations are located at a point on the Liffey river where natural falls provide suitable sites for developing hydro power plants.  Current hydrometric information on the Scheme is available on ESB's Hydrometric Information page.

After passing through Poulaphuca and then Golden Falls, the river flows 56km through County Kildare to Leixlip. Commissioned in 1938, these stations have a combined capacity of 38 MW. Poulaphuca is the largest complex, with two 15 MW generators and there is one 4 MW generator each at Golden Falls and Leixlip. These three stations also form part of the Turlough Hill Stations group.

For more information about River Liffey Generating Station, see the documents below:

Liffey PR Pamphlet, 1970s

Golden Falls Power Station from book “A Heritage Inventory of ESB Buildings in Ireland”

Poulaphuca Power Station from book "A Heritage Inventory of ESB Buildings in Ireland"

Leixlip Power Station from book “A Heritage Inventory of ESB Buildings in Ireland”