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9
NEWS
Dec 2010 / Jan 2011 www.esb.ie/em
Fond Memories Bring the Light
An Exhibition of the photography of Franz Sebastian Haselbeck 1885–1973
ESB, TOGETHER with Siemens Ltd. has sponsored an exhibition of the photography and equipment of Franz Sebastian Haselbeck (1885–1973). Like many professional photographers of his generation Franz Sebastian Haselbeck’s work was not fully recognised during his own lifetime. Over the last two years however, a collaborative project between ESB Archive and the Haselbeck family to restore and catalogue his photographic collection and equipment has been successfully undertaken. This has ensured the survival of what is undoubtedly one of most important Irish photographic collections from the 20th century. Franz’s photographic legacy spans almost seven decades and his work provides a prism through which we can view the major political, commercial and social developments which happened over the greater part of the last century. A representative sample of the photographer’s work has been selected, including early images of Ardnacrusha under construction, which would not be untypical for any commercial studio photographer.
Welcoming visitors to the exhibition at the Hunt Museum in Limerick, Dr. Hugh Maguire, Director of the museum stated; “What differentiates the images in this exhibition from lesser works is their sheer power to captivate and engage the viewer”.
Grand-daughter of the photographer, Patricia Haselbeck, explaining the rationale for the exhibition said, “Following my grandfather’s death in 1973, his life’s work remained in the family home where it was kept intact by my father, Frank Haselbeck Jnr, who on his deathbed in 1990, asked me to preserve his father’s work for future generations. I made that promise having no idea how I would keep it. This exhibition is the fulfilment of that promise.”
“The Shannon Scheme which features in the exhibition has an important place of pride in the history of both ESB and Siemens”, said Brid Horan, Executive Director ESB. “We are delighted that ESB’s Archive was able to collaborate with the Haselbeck family over the last two years to restore this wonderful collection.”
Paul Lynam, Chief Financial Officer Siemens added; “Captured by Sean Keating in paintings and Franz Sebastian Haselbeck through the medium of photography, the Shannon Scheme has become an inspirational milestone in Irish history and was the key to economic progress for the young Free State. Franz Sebastian Haselbeck, who was a Siemens employee during the Shannon Scheme, witnessed at first hand the major revolution that technology would have on the lives of the people, and captured this profound change in some of the marvellous photographs that are on display here.”
Speaking at the Dublin launch of the exhibition in ESB’s Head Office, Padraig McManus, Chief Executive said, “We are very fortunate that Franz Sebastian Haselbeck’s family preserved this important legacy for Ireland. It is a story, told in black and white, that could so easily have been lost. We are particularly appreciative of the photographs of the ESB Shannon Scheme, the country’s first hydroelectric power station, which Franz took while working for Siemens during construction.”
Records also show that Franz applied unsuccessfully to join ESB two years later when his work with Siemens ended. In retrospect, perhaps it was as well - he went on to be a professional photographer and lived until 1973, capturing images over half a dozen decades and leaving us with such a unique chronicle of some of Ireland’s industrial and social developments.
The Dublin exhibition runs until December 12th and can be accessed via ESB’s Georgian Museum, House 29.
Kaneshie School Project – another milestone
By Brian Cronly
AS THE THIRD school building humanitarian aid project at Kaneshie (a suburb of Accra in Ghana) comes to an end it is time to review what’s been happening on site during the last year. To begin with the original school was in a totally dilapidated condition. There were holes in the roof, open sewers running through the site, toilets and drains blocked up and overflowing. This was the net result of 50 years of neglect and lack of investment of any sort.
Early this year, design work was completed by local architect, Mr Yooku Sampson, and after a tender competition civil works commenced on the refurbishment of the school in March. By September the works had advanced sufficiently for the site to be ready to accommodate the ESB volunteers.
The role of the volunteers, thirty in all, was to carry out the electrical installation and complete painting and decorating. These tasks were to be completed within a two-week time span, a pretty tight schedule. On previous occasions quite a number of the volunteers came down with tummy upsets and a touch of dysentery but fortunately this time the amount of down time was minimal. In fact the works were completed well on time and costs were reduced by savings on the electrical and painting materials. An advance team of Brian Cronly (Project Manager) Martin O’Brien (Painting Supervisor) and Brendan O’Connor (Electrical Supervisor) had gone out four days ahead of the main group and great efforts were successful in getting the best value from locally procured materials.
The main group of volunteers arrived on Sunday 19th September and the work commenced in earnest on the Monday morning. A daily diary was posted on the EM website describing events on site. This provided a chance for loved ones and colleagues at home to keep track of what was happening and feel connected with the workers in Africa.
“we are so excited and can’t wait to start school next week - just like the children from Ireland”!
The volunteers, as had their previous counterparts, put their backs into the tasks and within a few days the work began to take shape. Weather conditions were relatively benign. When the original feasibility study was carried out, one of the concerns was that because Kaneshie was in the heart of the city and sheltered from the wind, it would become unbearably hot. This did not happen in practice and a sprinkling of rain even helped to keep the temperature and dust down. The team meanwhile gelled very well and lots of new bonds were forged in a way that is unique to an endeavour like this. People from many different departments, business units, age groups and walks of life became good friends.
Besides the gruelling work there were some lighter moments and the team did get to meet up with the teachers and students of the school during the Open Day ceremony. The student choir sang for us and some of the students put on a beautiful display of traditional dancing. Our Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, and the Regional Minister and Vice President of Ghana were guests of honour and it was wonderful to see the enthusiastic response and heartfelt appreciation of the teachers, students, local community and stake-holders to their new school. Padraig expressed his sincere thanks to the team for travelling out to Ghana to work on the site and to everyone who contributed selflessly in whatever way they could to the project.
To leave the last word with the pupils of Kaneshie School – “we are so excited and can’t wait to start school next week – just like the children from Ireland”!
