Area: Belcarra
Started: August 1950
Finished: April 1951
Poles used: 837
Line used (km): 63
Premises connected: 314
The figures above were sourced from our REO News magazine, to learn more about what these figures mean, visit our interactive map. 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 1951 tells us that rock and water were the rule rather than the exception in Belcarra.![A scanned page from the ESB REO magazine about the [Example] Rural Area](https://media.esbarchives.ie/media/images/default-source/default-album/rural/belcarra-r-e-o-may-1951-p.png?sfvrsn=4e071d63_1)
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
“Belcarra Rural Area: We were particularly interested to receive the post‑construction report on Belcarra Area, since this was Mr. Hagan’s first venture as an R.A.E. The report, in which he is joined by his Area Organiser, Mr. Hehir, is lengthy but most informative. Belcarra was a difficult area where rock and water were the rule rather than the exception. At one stage it looked as if there were going to be 83 ‘backsliders’ out of the original economic acceptances of 313. However, some hard work by Mr. Hehir reduced this 83 to 54, but 7 additional consumers were rendered uneconomic. On the other side of the ledger 62 new consumers were obtained, showing a nett increase of one in the final total. A less attractive fact is that although revenue increased from £1,567 to £1,647, the total gross capital cost increased by over £3,900, thus reducing the final return considerably. We feel sure, however, that every member of a relatively inexperienced crew goes to the next area with the firm intention of improving on Belcarra.
The total sales figure for the area of £2,412 is an excellent standard. The principal items included 12 Cookers, 30 Irons, 4 Washing Machines, 9 Kettles, 1 Water Heater and, oddly enough for such an area, an all‑electric Laundry and accessories, a large Refrigerator and a Dish Washer.
An interesting historical feature in the area was an obelisk erected to the memory of the French soldiers who fell there in 1798 in the battle which just preceded the ‘Races of Castlebar’.”