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17
GENERATION & WHOLESALE MARKETS
December 2012/January 2013 www.esb.ie/em
Breis Cumhachta Leo! Ranganna Gaeilge san ESB
AS THE old saying goes, Tús maith leath na hoibre, and this certainly rang true in the case of the Irish classes that started in ESB Head Office in September.
After Seachtain na Gaeilge in March, Ollie Perrill and James Tyrrell of ESB Trading sourced teacher Pearse Ahern of St Conleth’s College, Ballsbridge, to set up lunch time classes for those who wanted to improve their cúpla focal.
The idea went live, or beo, on Wednesday September 19th in Room D106, Head Office, where a motley crew of ESB staff gathered to work on their Gaeilge. The eight-week Tae agus Plé course, with the motto Is féidir linn, was a highly charged, yet systematic, race through the basics of natural spoken Irish. Particular emphasis throughout the course was put on teaching the participants how to unlock the secret at the heart of the Irish language, the magical ‘Super 6’ verbs!
The feedback has been very positive, with many participants hoping to do a second term. Classes will be organised in early 2013 and anybody who might be interested in joining can contact Ollie or James.
Buíochas ó chroí do ESB Facilities for an cabhair. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the people in Facilities, for making the meeting room available for the classes. Their assistance is much appreciated.
At the last class, all successful participants were awarded a fáinne from Comhdáil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge and a social night was organised in the Conradh na Gaeilge club on Harcourt Street. This provided an ideal setting for people to practice an teanga bheo.
There is nothing left to say at this point except to wish the Gaeolgeoirí all the very best and breis cumhachta leo [more power to them] and don’t forget folks: Is féidir linn!
Royal Parks Half Marathon
THE SUMMER Olympics and ESB’s support of Team Ireland inspired an ESB team to take on their own sporting challenge London!
Ben Wallace, Siobhan McAdam and Felicity Bush from the London office were joined by their Dublin colleagues Laura Thomas, Sandra Wright, Claire Ryan and Niamh Quinn intaking part in the London Royal Parks Half-Marathon on Sunday October 7th.
Glorious weather all along the scenic 13.1 mile race route as it wound its way through four of London’s Royal Parks allowed the team to enjoy magnificent views of the capital city and its historic landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Albert Hall and the Houses of Parliament.
Minister of State, Fergus O’Dowd and DCENR staff visit to Shannon silver eel trap and transport site
BOTH NATIONALLY and within Europe, the single stock of eel known as European eel, Anguilla anguilla L, has declined markedly with the past few decades - largely due to overfishing, pollution, habitat degradation, barriers to migration (including hydroelectric generation) and perhaps changes in oceanic environmental conditions.
In an attempt to prevent a further decline and provide for a future stock recovery, the EU implemented a Directive in 2009, which in the case of the Irish National Eel Management plan closed all commercial eel fishing activity and led to the development of an eel ‘Trap and Transport’ program. As a result, ESB has T+T programmes on the Shannon, Erne and Lee rivers where over 151 tonnes of eel have been transported over the past three seasons. This program of work is to the forefront of European eel conservation activity. The amount of silver eel transported offsets hydroelectric damage caused to migrating silver eel as they migrate downriver through hydroelectric stations and out to sea.
On behalf of ESB the National University of Ireland, Galway eel research team led by Dr. Kieran McCarthy have led one of the most important European research projects investigating the Rivers Shannon, Erne and Lee silver eel movement and their escapement to sea. The project uses hydro-acoustic tags and Didson high-definition sonar, along with field work upon eel deflection techniques (infra-sound and light deflection), to test any diversion effect upon migrating eel into alternative safer bypasses (spillways) at hydro stations.
Minister of Sate Fergus O’Dowd and Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources staff visited a Shannon T+T site in November. In Athlone two eel fishing crews were viewed, these being the O’Connell brothers and the Quigley brothers. ESB staff were on-site and discussed the T+T targets and protocols with the Minister. Eels were taken from the two crews and weighed onto the transport vehicle where they were later transported to a site below Parteen Weir on the lower Shannon for release. Minister O’Dowd was impressed with both the simplicity and professionalism of the operation whilst taking cognisance of the fact that this was a conservation effort by ESB.
ESB Fisheries Manager Noel Greally paid tribute to ESB Fisheries staff, NUI Galway and in particular Dr Kieran McCarthy and the contracted eel fishermen who have all played a significant part in the conservation programme. The oversight role fulfilled by Inland Fisheries Ireland was also recognised.
SEAILIEN Energy Markets Seminar hosted at Ardnacrusha
ARDNACRUSHA HOSTED a seminar for large industry energy users, organised by the SEAI, on Wednesday October 3rd. The event, which was attended by approximately 40 members of the Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN), was extremely well-supported and prepared for by the station staff. Speaking on the day were representatives of Eir-Grid, CER, Connaught Gold, Activation Energy and ESB Electric Ireland. Ardnacrusha Plant Manager Catherine Halpin gave a presentation on the history of the station and its role today as part of ESB’s sustainable energy portfolio. There was also a tour of the station before lunch.
The seminar was a great success with many interesting topics covered such as a review of external influences on the future of energy prices and a concept for energy users called ‘demand side management’.
Making a difference
THE CENTRAL Procurement team in G&WM turned their hand, once again, to helping the less well-off members of the community as part of a team development day. It’s become an annual feature of the Central Procurement calendar to help those less well off and in previous years the Fr Peter McVerry Centre and the sheltered accommodation for the elderly in Inchicore benefited from their efforts.
The work on this occasion was for Stepping Stone charity, which provides community-based housing for the homeless and helps them return to full independent living. The group carried out some much needed upgrading at one of the charity’s housing units on the North Circular Road. This involved generally freshening up the external appearance by scaling and painting all external railings, weeding the front garden, digging the back garden and planting shrubs and flowers. It was a hugely rewarding experience for all participants and the gratitude and appreciation expressed by Stepping Stone and the residents made it all worthwhile.
