Area: Killavullen
Started: October 1952
Finished: April 1953
Poles used: 1055
Line used (km): 89
Premises connected: 97
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.
There were quite a few blacksliders in Killavullen according to The REO News from August 1953.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"villages of Killavullen and Shanballymore, there was very little saving in capital expenditure. Indeed, whereas the gang hoped to get some of their materials at the old rate, the reverse was experienced and the cost of materials alone increased from £22,334 to £23,218. Obviously the area return suffered as a result.
Sales were average at about £800 – no details are given. It is somewhat astonishing to learn that the A.O. had to be withdrawn from the area before two‑thirds of the houses were connected and thus really had no chance to develop sales. However, Mr. Calnan tells us that to offset this unfortunate occurrence, it is proposed to send the Sales Van into the area at an early date, when it is anticipated that the sales figure will easily be doubled.
Principal construction difficulties were: an increase in P.O. crossings from 3 to 11, a main railway line, 3 swollen rivers and some low 38 kV lines. However, these presented little obstacle to a gang fresh from the rigours of the Castletownbere Peninsula and, apart from the deleterious effect on miles‑per‑unit caused by the swollen rivers, the difficulties were easily smoothed out."