ABSTRACT
The first pole of the rural electrification scheme in the Republic of Ireland was erected on November 5, 1946. It was a considerable act of faith on the part of such a small and impoverished country. But the ensuing results were dramatic, and Ireland’s rural electrification program was officially completed in 1976 as a resounding success. In little more than 30 years, the number of connected rural consumers had grown from a few thousand to over a half million customers in 1976, extending service to even the most remote rural areas. The program amply justified the faith of its initial planners and promoters.
