Area: Bawnboy
Started: August 1952
Finished: April 1953
Poles used: 859
Line used (km): 72
Premises connected: 111
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 1953 reports that the switch on ceremony in Bawnboy was held on St, Patrick’s Day.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Bawnboy Rural Area, Co. Cavan: The report of Bawnboy comes from the pen of Mr. A. Ryan, R.A.E. from which we learn that construction work was favoured by mild weather conditions in the winter and the very small amount of rock encountered. There were some difficulties due to water‑logging in pole holes and the presence of timber accounted for the greater portion of the permitted contingencies. Labour was good in both quality and quantity.
Of the original 274 acceptances, 11 became backsliders and thus rendered 8 others uneconomic. However, additional acceptances were obtained to bring the final total to 315 with an increase in revenue from £2,039 to £2,275. No estimates are included of final costs so we cannot give any indication if the area return has improved or otherwise.
A disappointing feature of the wiring was that few people followed the advice of the Organiser, Mr. McEnenney, to install outside lighting. The principal reason for this is that the majority of our consumers are small farmers and that the burden of wiring is appreciable. Correspondingly, they have postponed the outside extensions until a later date. Sales, in general, were poor in the area and the contractors showed no advantage over the Board in this regard. The principal items sold were 3 3‑Plate Cookers, 2 Milk Warmers, 1 Washing Machine, 3 Kettles and 2 Irons.
The owner of the former Undertaking in Swanlinbar, Mr. Coffey, was one of the guests at the switch‑on ceremony on St. Patrick’s Day and was the victim of a pun from the lips of Rev. Father Tully, C.C. who said he was now the people of Swanlinbar are now getting their electricity from water and not coffee."