Area: Shanakill
Started: June 1954
Finished: April 1955
Poles used: 1448
Line used (km): 137
Premises connected: 415
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.
Widespread backsliding was a problem in Shanakill according to The REO News from September 1955
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Shanakill Rural Area, Co. Tipperary:
Mr. L. Purcell, who took over the job of R.A.E. in Shanakill from Mr. J. Vale, has the satisfaction of knowing that, if his baptism of fire was fairly tough, he came through the ordeal with honour.
In spite of widespread backsliding of the individual‑house‑per‑group type which cost 63 consumers in all, he got 54 new acceptances and then persuaded 9 others to pay special service charges, so that his final total is exactly the same as his original. The sum total of the endeavour is that the area return comes in finally at 5.47% as against the original figure of 5.19%, both based on 17% overheads.
Practically all the labour available was transported from Roscrea and was not of very high quality to this add ground and weather conditions which were far from ideal, and the improvement in return is all the more noteworthy. Unit costs came out at 40/‑ with a transport figure of 7.26 miles per unit.
Mr. Purcell pays tribute to Mr. Vale and Supervisor J. Conroy in a difficult construction job.
Sales amounted to £996, and when we point out that Mr. D. Walsh, A.O., was also in his first construction area with rather apathetic consumers it will be agreed that, in spite of competition and price‑cutting, he did a very good job."