Video: Coming home for Christmas? Let’s crack out the ESB ‘Going Back’ ad

We’re sure some of you can identify with the classic ESB ‘Going Back’ ad this Friday before Christmas evening…

21/12/12 15,536 Views 30 Comments

IT’S CHRISTMAS AND we’re sure that many of you will be coming home for the festive period.

Although it won’t be the case for everyone this year because of work or other commitments we’re sure that wherever you are in the world you can identify with the sentiment of this classic ESB (now Electric Ireland) ad.

Happy Christmas.

YouTube: ELECTRICIRELAND

And yes, that is Alan Hughes, the fella off TV3.

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Comments (30 Comments)

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Eoin Lynch 21/12/12 #

2 51

What about the 1980’s Christmas Penney ads!!!! Miss them at Christmas on tv. They’re on the radio though!

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Stephen Gregg 21/12/12 #

10 100

Ah, the peak of Alan’s career.

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Claire Murphy 21/12/12 #

13 117

Great advert

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- Michael J Collins 22/12/12 #
  
  51 71
  
  But why would they need to spend our money advertising a product we have no choice but to purchase?
  
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- Cian McGowan 22/12/12 #
  
  25 50
  
  Michael, we have choice now with Airtricity and Bord Gais.
  
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- Diarmuid Donoghue 22/12/12 #
  
  20 52
  
  Cian, the point is when the ad was brought out, we didn’t.
  
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- Glenn O'hAilpín 22/12/12 #
  
  7 31
  
  All about building positive sentiment toward the Esb brand diarmuid even back before the market was deregulated. Eg An post do the same.
  
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Evan Prout 21/12/12 #

9 77

love this ad always brings back memories of waiting for santa

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Kevin Maughan 22/12/12 #

6 52

Jesus yer wan will have been out on her arse when that esb bill arrived. Everything in the house getting switched on!!!! Hahaha

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Stephen Sylvester 22/12/12 #

1 21

what about a kellogs ad with da little girl finding santa

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The kop 21/12/12 #

5 41

the aul Aer lingus ad turns on the waterworks for me aswel….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_i3iX6ozvI

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- Bernadette Dunne 22/12/12 #
  
  4 56
  
  Now this brings back memories.My Late Dad worked in Dublin Airport and we did spend sometime there and just watching Aer Lingus landing and taking wad so exciting and I thought if my dad was real important cos he used to refuel these beautiful craft. Dublin Airport was really a very small airport back then
  
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Paddy Stamp 21/12/12 #

13 72

The radio advert for Barry’s Tea with the noise of the toy train in the background is the best of all. Radio really lets you use your memory bank and the triggers in this ad are really powerful

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Mary Mc Carthy 21/12/12 #

7 44

Saw the Guinness advert for the first time tonight and really loved it !

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Eoin Lynch 21/12/12 #

28 91

Used to love this ad, then 2 years ago I realized it was the insufferable Alan Hughes in it. He’s unbearable on TV3

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Lorraine Keane 21/12/12 #

20 69

Just adore this ad! This is bigger than the coke ad for me at Christmas!

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- Graham Kiely 21/12/12 #
  
  4 36
  
  He’s home now…..but he was far away ….
  
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Padraig Stapleton 21/12/12 #

12 40

That ad never fails! Great memories…

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Geoff Tracey 21/12/12 #

16 26

Sammy sausages. Home for Christmas!

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Conor Farrell 22/12/12 #

3 7

I love the song. I always know it as being performed by Freddie Mercury before he was with Ibex, Smile, and eventually Queen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68p5xYBCVzA

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Mark Fagan 21/12/12 #

57 37

Ah the good old ESB who taxes you for trying to conserve electricity, classic paddywackery.

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John O'Neill 21/12/12 #

12 10

I’d say he’s a mammy’s boy…. I said it then and I’ll say it again….a mammy’s boy…. And that’s what confuses me… Why does he say he wants a Daddy in that grinding radio ad….?

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George Sheils 22/12/12 #

0 1

Looks like Rush & Lusk railway station at the beginning.
Anybody know for sure?

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- Jimmy Byrne 22/12/12 #
  
  0 0
  
  Yes that’s right, took 2 weeks to film.
  
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SL 22/12/12 #

0 0

If you can’t see it on your mobile it’s here too… And the Kellogg’s one too :) http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/Top-Christmas-adverts–Irish-ads-that-will-be-bring-a-tear-to-your-ey-135648223.html?mob-ua=Y

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- SL 22/12/12 #
  
  0 0
  
  Fixed link http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/Top-Christmas-adverts–Irish-ads-that-will-be-bring-a-tear-to-your-ey-135648223.html
  
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Louise Roche Evans 21/12/12 #

58 22

The lovely Alan!

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- My Two Cents 22/12/12 #
  
  6 3
  
  Smiley head…
  
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Muriel Gowing 22/12/12 #

31 10

Who needs electricity when it’s clear that the sun, moon and stars shine out of this emigrant’s rear end!

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jerry slattery 21/12/12 #

55 15

The only reason I bought my section 23 home was beacuse of dat feckgin ad . going home my arse

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Video: Coming home for Christmas? Let’s crack out the ESB ‘Going Back’ ad