Carlow & Electricity
One of the most important developments of the late nineteenth century and right through the twentieth century has been the introduction of electricity which not only facilitated the development of so many facets of day to day life but also allowed everybody both urban and rural dweller to avail of the benefits. Carlow made two significant contributions to the development of electricity, one in the late ninetieth century and the other in the twentieth century.
In 1891 Milford Mills begun generating electricity for Carlow Town. Photo Carlow County Museum.
Milford Mills, located approximately five miles south of Carlow town, was a significant operation but in 1862 part of the Mill was destroyed by fire. During the course of the early 1890s the English based company Messrs Gordon & Co entered into negotiations with Carlow Town Commission about the possibility of supplying electricity to Carlow from Milford.
Workmen laying the half inch cable along the streets of Carlow Town in 1891. Photo Carlow County Museum, ccm 02-1046.
The Nationalist & Leinster Times of July 18th 1891 states, “the company’s engineer fixed on Milford … as the source of the power necessary to generate electric light. Here there is splendid water power and a range of buildings of vast extent and capacity… Messrs Gordon leased these buildings and at once set about adopting them to the requirements of the new venture. They laid wires from Milford to Carlow along the canal route. Milford Mills as we have said are a splendid range of building, five storied. The water wheel is a mammoth one and is equal to working up to 120 horse power. Messrs Gordon consider the power at Milford derivable from the mill wheel quite ample for summer lighting and for the greater needs of winter they have in course of erection two large turbines, which will be erected close by”.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of generating electricity on July 13th 1991 a plaque was unveiled at Milford Mills. Present were (L to R) Cllr. Mary McDonald, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; John Browne, T.D.; Cllr. Sean Whelan, Cathaoirleach of Carlow Town Council; John Alexander, mill owner; Ray Conlon, President Carlow Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Laurence Ryan, Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin; Paddy Dowling, pioneer of rural electrification, M.J. Nolan, T.D.; Michael Sheil author and Martin Nevin, Chairman C.H.A.S. Photo Carlow County Museum, original slide Billy Ellis and reproduced with his kind permission.
“Outside public lighting the present plant will supply 1,5000 incandescent lamps for private lighting of 8 or 16 candle power at the option of the consumer. All works have been carried out by local labour under Mr. Meredith, the engineer in charge and Mr. Watkins, the foreman of works. The machinery was for the first time started on the 24th June and has since worked in the most satisfactory manner”.
The newly renovated Carlow Town Hall proudly displaying its old front door gas light which has been restored to take an electric light. Photo Carlow County Museum.
On Monday July 13th following a visit to the inspect the works in Milford a banquet was held in the Town Hall which had been “transformed into a floral palace” and along with the electric light from the ceiling, “twenty lamps with coloured globes gave an extremely pretty effect”. Mr. J. H. Gordon presided at the meal and gave the first toast , “Prosperity to Carlow”, stating to applause the historical significance of the occasion “..little town of Carlow, which he believed, only 6,000 inhabitants, had, through its Town Commission and general inhabitants, put larger towns in the background. It was the first inland town in the whole of Great Britain and Ireland to be lighted throughout with electricity”.
Messrs. Gordon & Co 1891 Newspaper Advert.
Photo Carlow County Museum.
Milford Mill still generates electricity when in 1990 it was recommissioned to feed into the nation grid. Photo Carlow County Museum.
During the twentieth century a native son of the county was instrumental in the development of Rural Electrification. Paddy Dowling from Linkardstown, near the village of Tinryland was in 1927 one of the first eleven to be employed by the Electricity Supply Board (E.S.B.). Initially the ESB concentrated on connecting all the major towns in Ireland to the supply grid.
During 1939 after questions in the Dail by Paddy’s cousin Jim Hughes T.D. a detailed investigation on rural electrification was undertaken by the ESB with Paddy as one of three writing the report. The out break of World War II slowed down the development of the plan but Sean Lemass, Minister for Industry and Commerce brought the completed report to Government in 1943 for approval. As a result Paddy was given one month to prepare the report on how the plans would be implemented on the ground. He successfully did so and from November 1946 the plan was implemented and the result is referred to as the “quiet revolution” because of it impact on rural Ireland. They now along with their town cousins could enjoy the benefits it offered of not just having electricity in their homes but also in practical and important ways for farmers with dairies, it facilitated the development and expansion of rural industry and the supply of rural water schemes amongst many other benefits.
For his enormous contribution to twentieth century Ireland Paddy Dowling was honoured on December 1st 1999 at a gala function in the Dolmen Hotel when the Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society (C.H.A.S.) named him the Carlow Person of the Century. Martin Nevin, Chairman of CHAS at the function stated that the Society “has taken a particular interest in Paddy Dowling, this quiet, unassuming Carlow man, while at the same time a cutting edge pioneer and a man who has shown a tangible dedication and commitment to the development of this country. In making our selection of Carlow Person of the Century, the committee laid down certain criteria to be adhered to and …. the principal among the criteria being: Impact on the Nation”.
Paddy then in his 95th year in response during his speech said “this is a proud occasion for me, to be so honoured by the people of a county I love. Though I left it for school in 1916, I can never forget my roots or the good people from whom I spring. I accept it in all humility and gratitude and in doing so would like to pay tribute to all who were part of the quiet revolution”.
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