Rural Electrification in Ireland

One of the most progressive developments in Ireland in the twentieth century was the installation of electricity in urban and rural areas. Dublin had an electricity supply from the 1880s. During most of the nineteenth century, lighting was provided by tallow candles which were later replaced by paraffin-oil ceiling lamps (designed to be hung from a ceiling). Gas lighting was used for many years during the twentieth century until the arrival of electricity. By the late 1920s, there were 161 separate electricity schemes in Ireland and all these were brought into the State-sponsored Electricity Supply Board after its establishment in 1927. By 1945, the Electricity Supply Board had 240,000 customers, with all towns connected. After the Second World War, it was decided to bring electricity to about 400,000 rural dwellings, an ambitious undertaking.

The rural electrification programme of the Electricity Supply Board started in November 1946 and was completed on the mainland in 1973, but the last of the inhabited islands off the west coast were only connected in 2003. Members of various local voluntary organisations canvassed households to sign up for the electricity and endeavoured to answer the queries raised. Some people were afraid that they would not be able to meet the monthly bill, and a few elderly people decided not to apply. There was great excitement when the electricity was first switched on, and within a short time most were wondering how they ever managed without it. The arrival of electricity was a major catalyst for change. It brought huge improvements in living conditions and led to the introduction of a wide range of modern household conveniences. The arrival of electricity was welcomed by everyone, especially by women as it liberated them from the drudgery attaching to a range of regular back-breaking chores from washing clothes by hand to cooking in many cases on open fires.

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