Building the station in Shannonbridge

The peat-fired power station in Shannonbridge may have been in the news recently, due to the revelation that a large element of the 5% price hike in electricity is justified to assist the ESB in generating power at the station from the use of economically inefficient peat. 50 years ago, the station was in the news too as the Westmeath Independent reported that contracts for the construction of the original power station on the site had been signed. The paper reported: "The station will consume about 200,000 tons of turf a year and will supply an average of 160 million units." Although construction was about to start, the paper said, it was not expected the station would be in operation until 1965. "The 40,000 kilowat turbo alternater will be supplied by C.A. Parsons and Co. Ltd, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the boiler by Walther et Cie, a Cologne firm. The milled peat will be supplied by Bord Na Mona from the Garryduff, Blackwater and Shannon Harbour bogs. "The new station is expected to bring a new era of prosperity to Sahnnonbridge and to add to the size of the village as a number of houses will be built to accommodate the station staff."