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Please note this event is fully booked – however, anyone interested can still register for online participation (please see below)

Limerick, 25 June 2025 — The Centre for Irish-German Studies (CIGS) at the ������ will host a one-day colloquium on 4 July 2025, commemorating the centenary of the Shannon Electricity Act and the inception of the Shannon hydro-electric power station at Ardnacrusha. 

Founded in 1997, the Centre for Irish-German Studies (CIGS) in UL has long served as a hub for academic and cultural exchange between Ireland and the German-speaking world. Over the past two decades, it has hosted more than 20 international conferences, numerous colloquia, and a wide range of guest lectures and literary readings, fostering dialogue across disciplines and borders (for more info see /artsoc/irish-german). 

The upcoming event is organised in collaboration with Siemens Ireland and ESB and will explore the rich tapestry of Irish-German relations during the 1920s and the enduring legacy of this landmark engineering project. The colloquium will delve into the diplomatic, business, engineering, literary, and cultural dimensions of the Shannon Scheme, which marked a turning point in Ireland’s modernisation. 

The programme features expert panels, a curated exhibition, and a guided tour of the Ardnacrusha power station. The event is already booked out but there is a waiting list and anyone interested can join register for online participation for the UL part (see /artsoc/irish-german/events/colloquium-100-years-ardnacrusha). 

Organiser Prof Gisela Holfter, director of CIGS, said: “We are delighted with the excellent cooperation with Siemens and ESB and the response we got already. We even have audience members coming from Germany specifically for this, such as two sisters from Berlin whose grandfather was sent here to work in Ireland for several years in the 1920s. The Shannon scheme was an extremely important and ambitious project and it continues to capture the imagination today. It will be wonderful to look at it from so many different perspectives with experts in their respective fields.  This colloquium not only commemorates a pivotal moment in Irish history but also celebrates the enduring partnership between Ireland and Germany in engineering, culture, and diplomacy.”

Joe Walsh, General Manager of Siemens Ireland, added: "We are proud to collaborate with the Centre for Irish-German Studies and ESB in advancing Ireland's energy transition while deepening the cultural ties between Ireland and Germany. The Shannon Scheme was a testament to how transformative technology can shape a nation's future. A century later, as we face new energy challenges, this legacy reminds us that innovative engineering and international collaboration remain crucial drivers of progress. Through today's digital technologies and sustainable solutions, we continue to build upon this historic partnership between our two nations."

And Sean Hegarty (ESB) stated “ESB was established in 1927 to operate the Shannon Scheme and distribute the electricity nationwide. The legacy of the scheme is still very present for us today as ESB drives towards the goal of a secure, decarbonised electricity system by 2040. It represents the potential of Ireland’s natural resources to supply renewable energy, the power of electrification to enable progress, and the monumental things that can be achieved when we work together to deliver our ambitions. We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Centre for Irish-German Studies and Siemens on this event exploring these important themes and celebrating the partnerships that made it possible.”

Note on the lunchtime exhibition: The Special Collections and Archives Department at the Glucksman ������, ������, holds a number of items relating to the Shannon Scheme, which will be displayed at the event. The Leonard collection contains various postcards and cigarette cards, displaying photographs of Ardnacrusha and its surrounds in the early 20th century. The department also holds a run of 'Progress on the Shannon' reports produced by Siemens during the construction of the scheme between October 1926 and December 1929, featuring maps, photographs, and observations on its main features, as well as the secondary work carried out at Ardnacrusha and the surrounding areas. In addition, a set of Anton Scheuritzel's lithographs of the scheme, dating from c1927, were donated to the Centre for Irish-German Studies as part of the Jürgen Gottschalk Collection in 2019. 

Programme Highlights

• 10:00 AM – Opening Session in the Glucksman ������, UL
  Welcoming remarks by Mayor John Moran, Minister of State Timmy Dooley, T.D., Prof Kenneth Stanton (Dean of Science and Engineering, UL), H.E. David Gill (German Ambassador), Aiden Cawley (Siemens Ireland), Sean Hegarty (ESB), and Prof Gisela Holfter (CIGS, UL).
• 10:20 AM – Engineering, Architecture & Marketing Perspectives
  Presentations by Prof Tom Cosgrove (Engineering, UL), Jan Frohburg (Architecture), and Prof Deirdre O’Loughlin (Marketing).
• 11:20 AM – Coffee Break
• 11:40 AM – Cultural and Literary Reflections
  Contributions from Maire Ní Ghráda (Irish, UL), Professor Emeritus Joachim Fischer (CIGS), and Dr Sorcha O’Brien (IADT).
• 12:40 PM – Lunch & Exhibition
  Hosted in the Glucksman ������, featuring a special exhibition on Ardnacrusha. Welcome by Ciara McCaffrey (������ Director) and introduction by Ken Bergin (Head of Special Collections).
• 1:30 PM – Roundtable: Legacy and Diplomacy
  A discussion on the historical and contemporary impact of the Shannon Scheme with H.E. David Gill, Aiden Cawley, Sean Hegarty, Simon Dauber (Allianz) and Stefanie Ziska (CEO, German-Irish Chamber of Industry & Commerce).
• 2:30 PM – Departure for Ardnacrusha
• 3:00 PM – Guided Tour of Ardnacrusha Power Station
  A unique opportunity to explore the site that symbolised Ireland’s leap into the modern industrial age. Return to UL by 5:00 PM.

The event will take place in hybrid form.

For further information, please contact:
Prof Gisela Holfter

Centre for Irish-German Studies
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Email: Gisela.Holfter@ul.ie
Phone: 061-202395
Website: 

Special thanks to Siemens Ireland for their support of the event.