From the archives: Seeing the light on Mayo's Inishturk

Tom Gillespie

FORTY years ago this January, The Connaught Telegraph reported that 1985 was to be a bright new year for 20 island families.

They had been told that electricity supplies would be laid on to their homes on Inishturk island, nine miles off the Mayo coast.

The 80 residents on the island had been relying on gas for lighting, heating and cooking.

Over the years a case had been made to the government to have the ESB provide a service to the islanders homes in Clew Bay.

The then Minister for Energy, Mr. Dick Spring, conferred that a central generating system was to be constructed later in 1985.

The islanders were told they would have to form a cooperative to administer the service.

And an operator was to be appointed to make sure the equipment remained in working order.

The ESB were having discussions with the islanders on the project.

Minister Spring said at the time: “Commencement of work on the project will depend on seasonal factors and availability of equipment.

“The ESB reckons that once the co-op is formed, the initial work should get underway in early summer.”