Area: Oylegate
Started: August 1952
Finished: January 1953
Poles used: 753
Line used (km): 70
Premises connected: 154
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.
Oylegate was described as a happy area in The REO News from May 1953
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Oylegate Rural Area, Co. Wexford: We particularly liked Mr. Fahy’s opening sentence in his post‑construction report on this area – “Oylegate can best be described as a happy area”. Weather conditions were good, the supply of material was excellent (with a tribute to Materials Division). There was very little timber and no rock and finally the people were kindly and co‑operative and interested in the Rural Electrification.
The punch in the report comes in the final paragraph. We learn that there were 28 losses out of the original 229 acceptances and this represented the drop of £156 revenue. However, there were 75 gains with a revenue of £556 and the final acceptances of 276 with a revenue of £2,129 10s. 0d. improved the revenue return from 7.78% to 8.29%.
Sales totalled £1,599 16s. 0d. despite the proximity to the towns of Wexford and Enniscorthy and the healthy competition from contractors in these towns. There is not a detailed list of the sales but Mr. Fahy tells us that Cookers, Grain Grinders and Pumps sold well and that the sales included 2 Electric Welders. The Tasker Trailer stayed in the area for a period of 2 months in Oylegate village where supply was available. The Organiser, Mr. O’Shea, took advantage of this addition to his sales forces and opened the trailer by appointment to demonstrate to any individual farmer or his wife the appliance in which they were interested. Mr. Fahy stresses the advantage of the private and personal nature of these demonstrations in which the farmer or his wife could operate the appliance for themselves and, being completely satisfied, the order was not difficult to obtain.
Mr. Fahy pays due tribute to the clergy in the area for their assistance in publicising our demonstration and, in particular, for arranging to have the National School vacated for two days to allow the demonstration to be held there. We have no doubt that the young scholars of Oylegate will join us in our appreciation of this gesture."