Ardnacrusha Tours 2026

Home Who We Are Ardnacrusha Tours 2026 Visit our Ardnacrusha Generation Station Step inside one of Ireland’s most iconic engineering achievements. This summer, Ardnacrusha Power Station in Co Clare is once again opening its gates, offering school groups and the general public a rare opportunity to explore Ireland’s largest river hydroelectric scheme. Ardnacrusha delivers a fascinating, behind-the-scenes experience that brings together history, engineering and Ireland’s clean energy future. School group tours run from May 25 to June 26 Visits begin at the Ardnacrusha Experience Visitor Centre, followed by an outdoor exploration of the headrace canal, locks and tailrace. Inside the station, the living heritage of the Shannon Scheme is brought vividly to life through a series of animated installations. Visitors gain access to the very heart of the station, including views of the turbine hall and the original control room. • Tours are fully guided • Groups of up to 30 people • Duration: approximately 90 minutes *There will be a limited number of 2.30pm tours available to the public during this time, please check the booking site. Book school group tours Information for teachers Public tours run from June 29 to September 4 Public tours follow the same immersive route, welcoming visitors to the Ardnacrusha Experience Visitor Centre before heading out on site to view the headrace canal, locks and tailrace. Inside the station, animations and interpretive displays showcase the remarkable story of the Shannon Scheme, from its ambitious beginnings to its continued role today. Guests enjoy unique views of the turbine hall and a visit to the original control room, offering a rare glimpse into a working hydroelectric power station. • Suitable for individuals and groups of up to 30 people • Fully guided • Duration: approximately 90 minutes Book public tour Some things to know before you book this tour of a working hydro plant Code of conduct for visits to our our Ardnacrusha hydro station A landmark in Irish progress For nearly 100 years, Ardnacrusha has played a vital role in shaping modern Irish life. Built as part of the ground-breaking Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme, the station helped electrify the nation and usher Ireland into a new era of progress. Constructed between 1925 and 1929, the project took just four years and the efforts of 5,000 workers to complete. With a construction cost of over IR£5 million, almost one-fifth of the State’s entire annual budget at the time, Ardnacrusha became a powerful symbol of Ireland’s ambition and forward thinking in harnessing its natural resources. When it first came online, the station’s 86 MW capacity was sufficient to meet the electricity demands of the entire country, supported by the simultaneous construction of the national grid. Today, Ardnacrusha continues to generate renewable energy and represents approximately 2% of Ireland’s total installed electricity capacity. To view this content, please enable cookies. View Cookie Settings