Audio version

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ESB NETWORKS LTD

December 2012/January 2013 www.esb.ie/em

DOUBLE TAKE DOWN UNDER

This interesting photo, captured in Queensland, was sent to us by Paul Mullarkey of ESB Networks.

Learning how to Non-Fish!

Kevin O’Shea speaking at the launch of his poetry book.

KEVIN O’SHEA retired from Network Projects in May 2009 and at his retirement event, to the disbelief of many of his colleagues and the amusement of most, he announced his ambition to foreswear the world of technology and write a book of poetry.

On Halloween weekend this year, Kevin’s dream came to fruition with the launch of his book The Art of Non-Fishing, published by Doire Press.

In the presence of many of his ex-colleagues, the book was launched by local Galway poet and political activist, Sarah Clancy. In Sarah’s opinion, “Though the poems are neat and orderly at first glance, they are bursting with heart, with humour, with a carnivore’s appetite for the meat of life and language and they can occasionally sneak in to catch a reader unaware and inflict devastating lasting wounds. This is poetry as it should be – it doesn’t appear dangerous but it could just floor you.”

The launch of the book was the culmination of what Kevin calls his annus mirablis during which he also celebrated his 60th birthday, got married and won the 2012 Cúirt New Writing Prize for Poetry. Not bad for a retiree!

One of the poems most liked by his colleagues is A Tailor’s Son Gets Career Advice, which speculates on how ESB might have had to survive without Kevin if different career advice had been given:

A Tailor’s Son Gets Career Advice

In that small room above the bookie’s
trouser alterations
turned up enough to pay
for a bathroom to be added at last.

Walls and roof by Jerry
a slow-moving man from Abbeydorney,
Plumbing by Mr O’Murchú
the pipe smoking gaelgóir
who brought his own mug and tea spoon,
rows of small pink tiles
by my own soft hands
a teenage DIY debut.

For the wiring, Uncle Paddy,
himself a well-rounded man
who could sight read Bach.
A technical school teacher
who read history at night
with a republican slant
he gave me Charles Dickens to read
Barnaby Rudge, a lump of a book.

I held his tools beneath
while his wise shoulders hunched over
the maw of the immersion cylinder.
You’re good at maths aren’t you?
You could do Engineering.
If only he had said
You’re good at English aren’t you?
You could…

Kevin’s book is available in Charlie Byrne’s the best bookshop in Galway or directly at www.doirepress.com. from Doire Press, Spiddal, who recently featured on RTE’s Nationwide programme. Treat yourself for Christmas.

CULLENAGH-WATERFORD 110kV uprate completed

Working on the Donegal 110kV Reinforcement Project.

As part of the 2012 Transmission Work Programme, an uprate of the existing Cullenagh-Waterford 110kV Circuit, overhead line, underground cable and associated HV Station Works was completed in October 2012.

THE EXISTING Cullenagh-Waterford 110kV line comprises 8.4km of overhead line strung with 200mm² ACSR conductor and 5.1km of underground 1,000mm² aluminium XLPE cable.

THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

was to uprate the overhead line using 430mm² ACSR conductor, including the replacement of six towers, some polesets, and insulators and hardware and to uprate the 5.1km cable section with 1,000mm² copper XLPE cable. On completion of the overhead line works, ESB Networks Telecom Services fibre wrapped the new 110kV conductor. At both Cullenagh and Waterford HV stations, re-conductoring of bays, installation of surge arrestors and associated civil works and a change-out of protection plant took place.

The overhead line route crosses the N25 dual-carriageway at three locations. Early engagement and discussion with the National Roads Authority and the road management company was required to ensure no delays to the project programme. The catenary stringing method was used to ensure the sections of overhead line, which crossed the dual carriageway, could be uprated safely during normal working hours and without impact on the dual carriageway and its users.

Where the overhead line is close to a transmission gas line, work required a site-specific risk assessment and the implementation of control measures to ensure the works were completed safely. The damp weather conditions of summer 2012 provided an additional challenge for agreeing land access and completing works, a challenge that was met by HV D&C Lines Waterford.

The new uprated 1,000 mm² copper XLPE cable was installed in the existing ducting, with the original 1,000mm² aluminium XLPE cable retired with plans to re-use it on future projects. The civil works contract included the building of a new joint bay and exposing existing joint bays for jointing works and subsequent backfilling. Traffic management and out-of-hours security provision were a major element of the cable project. Discussions with Waterford City Council to agree road opening licences commenced in early 2012 and this advance planning ensured a good working relationship.

There were a large number of parties – from ESBI, D&CS Waterford and Enniscorthy, HVD&C Waterford and Inchicore, ESB Networks Telecoms Services, New Century Engineering and Lisagallon Construction – involved in the uprating of the overhead line, laying underground cable and the HV Stations works.

It is a credit to the knowledge, experience and hard work of all parties involved that this project was delivered safely, on time and within budget. Thanks to all involved.

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