Area: Tourmakeady
Started: August 1953
Finished: July 1954
Poles used: 537
Line used (km): 37
Premises connected: 108
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.
Construction difficulties were many in Tourmakeady according to The REO News from September 1954.
This digital scan from the REO News displays the following text:
"Tourmakeady Rural Area
Mr. K. Brennan, R.A.E., supplies the report on Tourmakeady, and it opens with the pleasing item of news that 51 extra consumers were connected with only 7 backsliders. It is recalled that originally there were only 152 consumers in the area; the extra 30% is very satisfactory indeed. Both the cost and revenue increased, the latter at a greater rate, with the result that the ratio improved from 5.72% to 5.96%. Many of the houses in the area are due for demolition; in fact new sites have been selected, and naturally it was a difficult job to persuade the people concerned to take supply in the old houses. That they did so and that the percentage of acceptances in the area has improved from 60.6% to 65.2% is a matter of great credit to the A.O., Mr. Duggan and it is also to his credit that in a far from prosperous area his sales totalled £680.
Construction difficulties were many, including water with consequent double-staying as well as mountain work where practically all the poles had to be man-handled into position. In some cases it was even impossible to get the tractor into position and the rock had to be taken out the hard way. That the area has concluded so satisfactorily is a credit to all concerned and it is not surprising that Mr. Brennan pays his own tribute to his supervisor, Mr. O’Neill."