Waterford Standard 22 June 1929
Dungarvan
Electric Light Company acquired by the Electricity Supply Board
A specially summoned meeting of the shareholders of
the Dungarvan Electric Light Company was held at the boardroom of the company
for the purpose of considering a further offer for the purchase of the company
by the Electricity Supply Board.
‘A fortnight ago a meeting had been held, when an
offer of £5,000 for the works
was considered, and it was decided to send a deputation to Dublin to ask the
ESB to increase their offer. The deputation reported that the offer had been
increased to £5800. Mr Thomas
Power, chairman, and other directors present included Messrs J.Dunne,
P.J.Moloney, and T.Foley. There were a
good number of shareholders present. Mr Keohan said it was a good thing the
deputation had gone to Dublin as they made £800. Mr. Merry agreed…Keohan proposed they accept the
offer which was seconded by Mr Merry. Mr J.A. Lynch proposed a vote of thanks
to the directors. They gave the people good light…The chairman hoped they [ESB]
would meet the needs of the people and give light cheap and satisfactory. They
as a local company could not to anything else but accept the offer. The Shannon
scheme had power to come into the town and override their works and they could
not hope to compete with it’.
Edmond Keohan
wrote the following on the company in his Illustrated History of Dungarvan
1924:
‘The Electric
Light Company was established in 1920 with a capital of £8,000. The original
intention was to obtain the power from the river Colligan, but this idea was
abandoned, and now the power is derived from engines installed at the works.
The Company have secured the contract for the public lighting, and almost all
the shops in town have got an electric installation. It has been very
satisfactory as regards its lighting powers, and so far, that is for the three
years of its existence, the enterprise has got on well. As a local industry it
is a success. The charge is 1/- per unit. The light was first lighted on the
15th of August, 1921. Mr. John Dunphy is electrical manager.’
The
Shannon Scheme first began to generate electricity for the national grid in
October 1929. From 1929, nine towns and villages across Waterford were directly
supplied by the Shannon Scheme:
Cappoquin, 1929, Dungarvan,
1930, Dunmore East, 1929, Lismore, 1929, Passage East, 1929, Portlaw,
1938—1939, Tallow, 1929, Tramore, 1929, Waterford, 1929.
Dungarvan Electric Image - Circa 1920