Avoca, Co. Wicklow

Map extract showing rural electrification areas in County Wicklow, including Ballymoyle, Avoca, Johnstown and Kilavaney. Area: Avoca
Started: August 1950
Finished: April 1951
Poles used: 874
Line used (km): 75
Premises connected: 77

The figures above were sourced from our REO News magazine. Click interactive map to find out more on what the figures mean. The map above shows the area boundary and is from a digitised version of the original map used during the scheme.

Area Survey:

An initial survey was conducted in the Avoca rural area in Co Wicklow in 1950, which covered 19.5 sq miles. The estimated cost of implementing the scheme was recorded as £23,344.

From a total of 506 houses, there were: 363 acceptances of the scheme; 116 refusals; 3 ‘doubtfuls’; and 6 recorded as vacant.

Typed summary sheet showing the results, projected costs and acceptance rates for a rural electrification scheme in the Avoca area of County Wicklow. Avoca survey, c1950

Memorandum dated 26 October 1951 regarding the Avoca Rural Area, discussing difficulties recruiting labour for rural electrification works due to competition from other local employers and challenging ground conditions. Memorandum, 26 October 1951

This digital scan from the memorandum displays the following text:

"Date: 26 October 1951

From: S. Nolan

To: Rural Electrification Office

Re: Avoca Rural Area

... the labour obtainable in the area was very poor as wehad to compete with a waterworks scheme in Aughrim, the Avoca Mines and a number of timber contractors in the area all of whom offered more attractive conditions than we did ... In addition to this the country was very difficult with much tree-cutting and rock."

Key crew members

J.F. Heslin and D.F. MacKenzie Rural Area Engineers
J.J. Ryan Area Clerk
S. Malone Engineer

St. Patrick’s Copper Mines

ESB agreed to supply electricity to St. Patrick’s Copper Mines Ltd. on 8 March 1956. At the time, ESB considered mining to be a risky enterprise. It was therefore necessary for the mines to make financial contributions towards the extension of the supply from Arklow and Carrickmines. The electricity supply was completed in September 1957.

Switching on Avoca

The highlight of rural electrification in each area was the switching on ceremony, attended by the local community. The Irish Independent reported on 2 April 1951: Newspaper clipping titled This digital scan from the newspaper cutting displays the following text:

"LIGHT FOR AVOCA

Switching on the first electric current in Avoca, Very Rev. J. Mulcahy, M.A., P.P. said he hoped the young people would now be encouraged to reside in the country instead of flocking to the cities. Mr. Everett Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, said he was glad that the constant efforts of the local Development Committee had at last been successful. Mr. S. Lester, former High Commissioner in Danzig, was present."

On completion of the area in March 1952, a report on Avoca was submitted to the Rural Electrification Office (REO):

Typed report on the Avoca rural electrification area discussing delays in wiring council cottages, construction challenges posed by wooded and hilly terrain, and consumer acceptance levels following completion of the scheme. This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:

"In his report on Avoca Area, Mr. Heslin recommends that the Board should take up with County Councils the matter of slow wiring of Council cottages. This question of slow wiring seems to be a general complaint and one which merits some type of persuasive action. In Avoca, for example, there were over 100 cottages but despite all representations a

contract for wiring was not placed until four months after the completion of the area and then the wiring contractor found himself with a burden of a six months' time limit.

Construction in the area had a fair amount of difficulty because of the hills, valleys and plantations of trees. In a number of places the line had to be broken and disc insulators used to avoid 'uplift'. At first sight it seemed as though there would be a phenomenal amount of tree cutting as Avoca is a fairly heavily wooded area, but as construction progressed it was found possible to reduce tree cutting considerably below what was originally visualised.

The plusses and minuses of consumers cancelled each other exactly and the area finished with 363 acceptances. No indication has been given as to the possible financial result from the area.

Mr. Heslin came under the spell of the natural beauty of Avoca and recommends it as a rest cure for R.E.O. staff, particularly for Materials Division who so frequently come under fire from the Area Staffs."