On this day in 1948, Bansha became the first village in County Tipperary to be connected to the electricity grid under the Rural Electrification Scheme.
The following was reported in the Nationalist a few days later:
‘“In God’s name, here goes!” With these words, Very Rev. John M. Hayes, the lusty cheers of his parishioners ringing in his ears, turned the switch that put the lights on in Bansha – County Tipperary’s first rural electrification scheme had been successfully carried through.”
The reporter went on to describe the ceremony which took place at 10.30pm on 24 May 1948, a rainy night, but the villagers turned out in their droves nonetheless to witness the arrival of electricity to Bansha. Fr Hayes addressed the people in the centre of the village and flicked the switch that put the street lighting in operation.
After the lights came on, father Hayes told the crowd:
“Tonight, we have witnessed the first fruits of rural electrification in County Tipperary. We wish to thank the E.S.B for giving us this great opportunity of electrifying the two parishes of Bansha and Kilmoyler. I would like to remind you that as a result of this electrical supply, we shall be opening in a few weeks’ time a factory in this village – Bansha Rural Products. We hope to manufacture there from home grown raw material such products as jam etc. Employed in this factory will be immediately from 20 to 30 people, many of whom would otherwise have to leave the country to have to find their living. We all recognise the economic advantage of rural electrification but there is a still greater advantage and that is its social aspect.”
After the ceremony, Faith of our Fathers and the national anthem were sung and the Fife and Drum band played through the street.
The article also notes that by 1948, some 99% of towns and villages with more than 250 people had been connected to the grid but only 2% of rural dwellers and people living in villages of less than 250 people had access to electricity.
Sources:
The Nationalist 29/05/1948, p5.
