Area: Kilbeacanty
Started: September 1955
Finished: February 1956
Poles used: 1499
Line used (km): 136
Premises connected: 353
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 March 1956 reports that Kilbeacanty is an interesting part of the country
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Kilbeacanty Rural Area, Co. Galway:
Kilbeacanty, Mr. O’Conchubhair reminds us, is a most interesting part of the country being associated with both Yeats and Lady Gregory, but it was not an easy area for construction. Approximately 60% of all pole‑holes needed blasting, and a wooded country, while picturesque, is a headache for the construction engineer. We cannot give final figures for the area as it has been complicated by the fact that two additions to the area were authorised subsequent to the original design, but we did note that the final percentage of acceptances was 75.4% as against the original design of 65.6 and the economic acceptances improved from 48.2% to 67%. The estimate is that the return has improved from 5.07% to 5.13%.
The sales figure was not at all what was expected from so large an area, with a total of £542. There was a fair amount of competition in the area from outside contractors and, in addition, many of the consumers considered that the cost of getting their premises wired was sufficient expenditure for the time being."