Area: Carrigart
Started: June 1954
Finished: February 1955
Poles used: 1330
Line used (km): 125
Premises connected: 316
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 March 1955 reports that Carrigart was a rough and mountainous area.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Carrigart Rural Area, Co. Donegal: Carrigart Area claiming, quite correctly, to be the most northerly rural area yet to have been developed, was started under the guidance of Mr. D. P. Gallagher, and was fairly considerably advanced when he was transferred to Head Office, and Mr. P. J. Quinn took over.
It is rough mountainous country with deep valleys between, where amounts of bog were encountered. One particular two‑mile stretch from Carrigart to Downings was exceptionally troublesome as it consisted entirely of sand at or near sea level, and in places less than 100 feet from high water mark. It was almost impossible to dig pole holes deeper than 1 foot and then the most satisfactory solution was found to be our old friend, the tar barrel. That this decision was correct is borne out by the fact that there was a violent storm in the locality on the first week‑end after the poles were erected, and they withstood the storm without quiver or blemish.
Of the original 502 consumers, 28 became backsliders and 4 had been vacated since canvass. On the other side of the picture, 44 new consumers were gained, giving a final total of 511. Revenue increased from £2,641 to £2,857, while cost decreased from £48,200 to £44,318, to give an improvement in return from 5.43% to 6.14%.
Sales reached a total of £1,500 and included: 16 Cookers; 3 Pumps; 1 Welder; 2 Washing Machines; 2 Grain Grinders and a large number of Kettles, Fires, Irons and Rings. In addition, the Carrigart Hotel purchased equipment to the value of £1,261. Altogether a most satisfactory result!
Sales by local contractors also were good and about 80% of all consumers in the area have an electrical appliance of some type or other."