Area: Clareen
Started: December 1954
Finished: April 1955
Poles used: 754
Line used (km): 73
Premises connected: 15
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 August 1955 tells us that the weather caused the biggest problem in Clareen.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Clareen Rural Area, Co. Offaly: Clareen area, we learn from Mr. Fahy’s report, involves parts of three parishes, Birr, Rath and Clareen. In turn, these are in three different dioceses, Killaloe, Meath and Ossory respectively. Historically interesting is the ruin of the monastery of St. Kieran, and each year on his Feast Day, March 5th, a pilgrimage is made to a holy well, situated close by the ruins.
Weather was the greatest factor militating against construction but in spite of adversity the area improved from 5.13% to 5.19%.
Sales by the A.O., Mr. D. J. Corbett, reached the excellent total of £2,159. We noted that the list included 10 cookers; 18 washing machines; 2 grain driers and 4 grinders. Mr. Corbett is to be congratulated on this splendid result and also on the fact that about 70% of the consumers installed outside lights."