ESB sponsors two prizes at the RHA Annual Exhibition 2006
Esb recently sponsored two prizes at the RHA Annual Exhibition 2006, which marked the 176th event for the Royal Hibernian Academy. The sponsorship is in honour of two former ESB Chief Executives, Thomas McLaughlin and Joe Moran.
Brendan Delany, ESB Archive & Heritage Manager, explained, "ESB believes that these awards for art and sculpture help profile the importance of visual arts and the contribution they make not only to enhancing the workplace but also to help provide us with a better appreciation of the relevance of art in all its forms in our daily lives". In each case, the title of the prize honours two outstanding people.
The Keating /McLaughlin
Award:
Dr. Thomas McLaughlin worked
as young engineering manager for
Siemen -Schuckert and persuaded
them to successfully bid and
indeed complete the project
known as the Shannon Scheme,
which brought forward the
electrification of Ireland. He was
appointed ESB's first Chief
Executive and played a major role
in all aspects of the organisation
until his retirement in 1958,
making a particularly significant
contribution in establishing ESB's
Rural Electrification Programme.
Sean Keating, former President RHA 1948-1962, is perhaps best known for his work in recording in a series of sketches, drawings and paintings which depict the development of the Shannon Scheme. The scale and variety of the machinery used in the building are detailed with great precision. Figures of the workers were often included to give scale to the work, which was and still remains one of the most significant industrial undertakings ever undertaken in Ireland.
The Connor/Moran Award:
Jerome Connor, Irish American
Sculptor, was an artist of the first
rank whose importance has
perhaps been inadequately
recognised up to now. Born in
Kerry in 1874, Connor divided his
career between Ireland and the U.S.
ESB has been associated with
supporting the development of a
visitor centre in Annascaul to
display this artist's work and make
it more accessible to the public.
Joe Moran was Chief Executive of ESB from 1991 to 1996. He not only made an immense contribution to ESB, but to public life in Ireland. Joe was a man who accomplished a great deal through leading by example, displaying vision, courage and compassion.
