Area: Arranmore
Started: June 1956
Finished: September 1956
Poles used: 456
Line used (km): 33
Premises connected: 235
The figures above were sourced from our REO News magazine, to learn more about what these figures mean, visit our Interactive map page. The map above shows the area boundary and is from a digitised version of the original map used during the scheme.
The REO News from May 1956 reports on the delivery of supplies to Arranmore.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Newspaper notices such as the following extract from "The People’s Press" have indicated to the general public that our coastwise shipping activities have been resumed somewhat ahead of the customary season:-
14.1.’56.
EQUIPMENT FOR E.S.B. LANDED - The unloading of 500 E.S.B. poles, cable, pole transformers and other electrical fittings was completed on Arranmore Island, off the Donegal coast on Monday night.
The material, intended for the electrification of Island homes, was taken in on the Dutch motor vessel "Whitsun". The boat was beached on the Island on Sunday afternoon and when the tide receded at 8.0 on Monday morning, unloading began.
Work had to be abandoned temporarily at high tide on Monday afternoon, but was resumed and completed that night.
Among the equipment landed were a delivery van and three compressor-tractors, to be used for haulage and rock-boring.
When the tide rose, the vessel fouled her propeller in the anchor cable. The Arranmore lifeboat and the fishing trawler Ros Mhuire stood by in case it would be necessary to tow her to deeper water, but it was found no serious damage was caused.
An E.S.B. official said that 40 local men would be employed on the scheme, and that Arranmore would be connected to the network in about three months."
Many compliments have been paid to those who were active in or responsible for, the operation at Arranmore. Typical of such compliments is the following extract from the "Derry Journal":-
11.1.’56
"ARRANMORE - All concerned in this operation, the master and crew of the vessel, the staff of the E.S.B., the local workers, can be complimented for the very efficient way they co-operated in the landing of the cargo." They have indeed every right to be proud of their efforts. They planned the operation well and there wasn’t a hitch. Indeed the energy and efficiency had made a number of operations which went strictly according to plan. Hats off to them!"
The REO News from November 1956 tells us more about the challenges faced on Arranmore.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Arranmore Rural Area, Co. Donegal.: Arranmore is an island area off the Atlantic coast of Donegal, and in the midst of construction of normal areas which are routine to our crews, the story of our latest Gaeltacht Area brings in a reviving note of freshness.
In Technical Division Notes in our August issue we told the story of the laying of a new type of plastic sheathed cable (Prodtoaur) from the mainland to the island, with the overhead link at the mainland end virtually hopping from rock to rock.
There is only a shallow pier on the island and the m.v. Whitsun, which carried the construction material, landed some of its cargo at Burtonport on the mainland for ferrying across, but the bulk of the network components were off-loaded direct at the island following the beaching of the Whitsun. The negotiations leading to this delicate operation were in the capable hands of Mr. P. Conry and both he and Mr. J. Corbett, who handled the loading and unloading of the vessel, must have breathed a sigh of gratitude when the now emptied Whitsun floated up on a later tide and departed to re-load from Cleggan Bay. The whole proceeding has been recorded on film and is a most interesting documentary. Apart from some of our own filming (Credit Title to Mr. Des Gallagher) a Galway priest, V. Rev. Tom Keyes, professor at St. Joseph’s College, Ballinasloe, made an excellent and comprehensive 8 mm. film of both night and day scenes throughout the entire operation. This self-imposed holiday task was very much appreciated as was the gift of a copy of the film to our library.
The post-construction report by the R.A.E., Mr. D.J. Herr, is a very comprehensive and interesting document for which we thank him. He tells us how in the course of unloading there was only one minor accident, as the material was unloaded over the side to the dry sand with the anchor and the two men which came over as deck cargo, picked them up at low tide beach and hauled them up to the outoffices. Proud he was in writing to note it also that there was a bad experience with a small outplant — a box of six disc insulators which were temporarily covered with bog but were recovered by some children on the beach upon being informed of their value. Mr. Herr records his gratitude to the captain and crew of the Whitsun, Capt. Janson, who did everything possible to facilitate the construction and transport operations.
The residents of the island co-operated to the utmost and in general waived their carts for the 7 days to assist the construction work. The weather was rough but uneventful. Rock, of course, was the predominant feature and Mr. T. Kiely (mechanic) had a busy time keeping Warsop drills working."
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"In the extremely unusual conditions it would be ungenerous to criticise the final return which at 5.35% is a slight drop from the design figure of 5.42%. In fact Mr. Herr will be interested to learn that when the final analysis is completed he may actually be in the position of having an improved return.
Sales by the Area Organiser, Mr. P. Dawson, amounted to the satisfying figure of £775 almost entirely composed of domestic appliances and Mr. Dawson thinks that further sales are probable.
Mr. Herr pays tribute to his Supervisor, Mr. T. Carney, to Mr. C. Clune, Deputy District Engineer, Sligo, to Mr. Dawson, A.O., to Rev. Fr. McDyer, to residents, Jack Boyle, Joe Rogers, Phil Boyle and a host of others, to the men of the gang, mentioning among others, Dave Mullis, Paddy Leonard and Kevin Doherty, and to the demonstration staff. We heartily re-echo his appreciation.
It is interesting and unusual to note that no consumer on the island is paying an S.S.C."