The Coming of Electricity

A look back to electricity in the 1950's and 1960's

Gerry Costello

Rural Electrification

Electricity Network Building

Emma Laffey

Electrifying Menlough.

(We thank Emma Laffey for submitting the following article on rural electrification at a local level in the Menlough Area)

This week we look back at the Rural Area Electrification project that took place in the Menlough area in the early 1950s. This, along with the subsequent utilities of the telephone and group water scheme, helped to shape the well-resourced area that we have today. Great credit is due to the suppliers of these but also to the many local diligent volunteers who gave off their foresight, time and talents to ensure that future generations would reap their benefits. Today we look at a report in the REO News monthly magazine which was used to communicate with its 40 separate units of 50-100 workers, spread across 26,000 square miles. There were 168 issues of REO News published between December 1947 and November 1961, growing from 3 to over 20 pages. Initially, it was stencilled and typed in-house at the REO in Merrion Square, Dublin. In 1953, the magazine was given a glossy cover, and included a number of black and white photographs, and by 1959, REO News was published in a fully printed format.

“Menlough Rural Area, Co. Galway: Mr. Brennan’s report on Menlough area opens on an optimistic note, saying that it was a very happy area and that thanks to a thriving local committee and the efforts of the Area Organiser, Mr. T. Maye, there was an excellent final acceptance of 87.5%. There were, however, 13 backsliders but 80 new customers were gained to give a final total of 316.

The original figures show a capital expenditure of £20,350 with revenues of £1,197 and a return of 5.9%. The actual final figures show that the capital expenditure increased to £26,400 with revenue increasing to £1,476. As a consequence the return fell to 5.57%. The principal reason for the fall in the return is that 64 of the new consumers were of a lower return than the original 5.9% and, consequently, the final over-all figure for the area was debased to the value stated.

Sales were at a very low figure of £100, the principal items being: 1 3-HP motor; 1 Breakfast Cooker, 15 irons and 3 Electric Fires. Mr. Brennan states that it was a great pity that the demonstration unit was unable to visit the area until construction was almost completed. We have said it before, and at the risk of being tedious, let us say it again, that the date of demonstration is generally one which is controlled by the R.A.E. He will certainly receive an offer of a date from Development Division but if this is not suitable he should say so and give his reasons why, when every effort will be made to meet his wishes. After all, the primary function of the demonstration is to display the appliances and to get sales. Again, if the

R.A.E. does not get his material when he requires it, he will probably raise a most unholy howl on the subject. Why not then, when planning his area, state at the beginning, when he will be in a position to have his demonstration and thus have his name down on the programme for the time which is best suited to his area?

Wiring by contractors was a disappointing feature of the area and only 223 houses were connected when construction was completed.

In case it should be thought that we are in any way decrying the efforts of Mr. Brennan and his crew, let us terminate this report on a note of congratulation. We are informed by the Watch-Dogs of Cost and Progress that the unit cost for the total job was 29/4d as against an average of 34/- and the transport figure for the total construction period was 4.3miles per unit.”

Carried by the Tuam Herald on July 4th, 1953.

Rural Electrification in general:

by Gerry Costello

In the late 1930s the government was ready to launch the Rural Electrification Scheme. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 caused a setback and the programme was postponed until 1946. Steady progress was made from then on through the 1950s but there were often budget cuts to be dealt wit back then also from time to time so progress might not always be as fast as was hoped. Work speeded up again in 1962 and by 1965 some 80% of rural households were connected but many people remember well the outlying communities that were not connected until the mid 1970s. Indeed it was 2003 before the remaining rural places – Inishturbot and Inishturk (off the westcoast) were finally connected to the mains but some islands still generate with an off-grid supply.

The Greatest Technology:

The coming of electricity was to become the most technological innovation to impact the countryside. It did not happen overnight or even too quickly after that – it took many, many years for the rural community of this area to really feel and experience the life changing event that was rural electrification. The reasons were many.

Firstly it was down to affordability. A new household bill was generated that was never around before. Up until now the major “must pay” bills in any house in this area was the rent and the rates and non payment of these meant you were put out on the road – no if’s or but’s …… and no pleading, protesting or government intervention would save you. The one fear that every household in the area had, was the fear that they might not be in a position to pay these two bills and it was a constant worry in these days. Now there was another new bill that had to be paid and it was putting more pressure on the household purse.

Next it was dangerous. People were sceptical and afraid of this new stuff that you could not see. This electricity could kill you. It could burn down your house. Some people were terrified of it and older people were reluctant to allow it in to the house or as they would say “inside the gate”.

Not Many Appliances:

In the beginning it was only for light. People had no electric appliances nor the money to buy them. The first houses I can remember had one light installed in each room and maybe one socket in the kitchen. That was it. The first items that most people acquired after the installation were an electric kettle and an iron. Sometimes a relation coming from England on holiday would bring one of these items home as a gift to their parents. It was many years later that washing machines, televisions, fridges and cookers came along. Computers, TV Games, Videos, Hair Dryers, Toasters, Food Mixers, Blenders and vacuum cleaners were still a long way off – remember the house had only one socket.

Generally people were un-educated on its use and benefits. After the first lights were turned on one woman was heard to complain that “it showed up too much dirt around the house at night when visitors came in”. Another was asked how she liked it and replied that it was great to be able to turn it on while she searched the house for a candle. One local man used to screw out the fuse to turn off the light as nobody showed him what the switch was for.

Everything was minimalist:

Lighting was not installed in sheds in those times and outside lights were few and far between and if they were there they were only turned on when somebody was outside and were switched off again. A local man maintained that there was no earthly reason why he should be giving light to the rest of the neighbours to see their way around outside and he paying for it. Nothing was wasted. I remember the electricity being connected to Garbally School in 1967 and then only three lights were put in – one in each classroom. No power points or sockets were installed at that time.

The Transformation:

Like it or not, the life of many households was transformed and the overall social effects cannot be overstated. The countryside became literally brighter and the residual belief in fairies and ghosts which once had such a powerful grip on the people of the area was increasingly banished. A chink began to appear in the armour of all sorts of supernatural belief. Local industry was now being generated and powered machinery was making work less and less labour intensive and, of course, everything did not have to grind to a halt at the coming of darkness.

This page was added on 09/01/2015.

Comments about this page

Reply
lovely to read this account and including the stories also makes it more interesting.
By Susan Glynn (03/07/2015)
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A great read and a wonderful story. It’s great history and and tells much about people of the era also
By Ray Noonan (24/06/2015)