Area: Gweedore
Started: August 1954
Finished: July 1955
Poles used: 1155
Line used (km): 108
Premises connected: 370
Backsliding was fairly serious in Gweedore according to The REO News from September 1955
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"AREA NOTES (Contd.)
Gweedore Rural Area, Co. Donegal.
At the time of writing his report, Mr. Herr had not final costs, but anticipates that there will be a considerable amount of over‑expenditure. Backsliding was fairly serious at a total of 74, but 128 new consumers created a nett increase in revenue of approximately £570.
Agriculture is practically non‑existent in the area, and accordingly, sales of domestic equipment to the value of £950 by the A.O., Mr. P. Dawson, must be regarded as reasonably satisfactory.
Mr. Herr concludes with a request for technical data and specifications of the materials and tools issued to R.A.E.s, and we have passed his request to Technical Division who will, no doubt, meet him in as far as is possible."
An interesting story from Gweedore as reported in The REO News from March 1959
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Gweedore Rural Area was completed last year. During this time a member of the gang became interested in the history of the Parish Church, known locally as the Long Tower Church. This interesting story he passed on to us:
“During the evictions in the early 1890’s Gweedore was especially afflicted by the trouble, and Fr. (later Canon) McFadden and Fr. Daniel Stephens were strong in the defence of their parishioners, obtaining wide publicity for their plight. One Sunday morning the R.I.C. under District Inspector Martin, surrounded the church where Fr. McFadden was saying Mass and moved in to arrest him. A struggle ensued between the congregation and the police, in which Inspector Martin was killed. The culprit was never found.
However, the struggle for Fr. McFadden’s freedom was unsuccessful and he was sentenced to six months imprisonment in Derry Jail, for incitement.”
/Contd."
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"CONCOCTIONS (Contd.):
While Fr. McFadden was in jail he was constantly watched, even while saying Mass, because during his captivity he continued to publish letters in the “Derry Journal” condemning the Gweedore evictions and the persecution of his parishioners. Dublin Castle was anxious to put an end to these letters but, despite several investigations, could not discover how the letters reached the “Derry Journal” from the jail. It wasn’t until a warder, when Mass was over, was watching through the sacristy door while Fr. McFadden was unvesting, and saw him slipping a note to his altar‑boy Liam Devlin, (who later played an important liaison role between Scotland and Ireland I.R.A. in the War of Independence). Thus ended the troublesome letters as far as the “Castle” was concerned.
The historic Long Tower Church has now received supply."
But The REO News from August 1959 had a gas story to report
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"During the Mobile Farm Kitchen’s stay in Gweedore, Co. Donegal, it was reported in February 1959 “R.E.O. News” how the Bakewell Oven was delivered by sleigh in the snow to a gas consumer for trial. For your information, the gas consumer has since that got rid of her gas cooker and installed a 3‑plate electric cooker complete with automatic time control. And by all accounts the whole house is delighted with the change.
(Sgd.) P. Dawson, A/O."