Electricity Comes To Ireland
Larger cities in the north of Ireland were among the earliest in the UK to encourage the setting up of an electricity supply. However, it was well into the 1960s before almost all rural properties were connected to the network.
The Belfast Electric Lighting Order 1890 Act and the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No.7) Act of 1890 gave the County Borough of Belfast the authority to generate and sell electricity throughout the city. On 13th April 1882, the Belfast Telegraph reported
“Last evening Mr. J H Greenhill lighted up a portion of Green Street by means of electricity with great success. Four lamps were suspended at intervals from houses and the light…could be looked at without hurting the eyes.”
Electricity was first supplied to Londonderry under the provisions of the Londonderry Electric Lighting Order 1891 and the Electric Lighting Orders Confirmation (No.3) Act 1891, and preparations were almost complete in August 1893.
Poyntzpass – Still In The Oil Age
Meanwhile, Poyntzpass was not exactly embracing the zeitgeist; it was grappling with the issue of lighting the streets at night – with oil lamps! On 14th January 1894, a concert was held in the Petty Sessions courthouse by the Poyntzpass Village Lighting Committee, to raise funds for the installation of street lighting in the village.
In September 1899,[1] the Newry Reporter stated that oil-burning street-lights had recently been installed in Poyntzpass, but the necessary increase in local rates (to raise a total of £6 per annum for oil and maintenance!) had not yet been authorised—so they couldn’t be used!
On 26th August 1902, the Newry Reporter stated, “We understand it is the intention of Henry Thompson & Co of Newry to introduce [to Newry] electricity for power and lighting purposes…work has already been commenced.” More locally, in December 1928 Patrick White of Rostrevor, submitted plans to Newry No. 2 RDC for the establishment of a generating station for the supply of electricity to Poyntzpass. On 19th August 1929, the Electricity Commissioners for Northern Ireland issued a signed consent to White’s plans.
When Did Electricity Arrive?
However, over a year earlier, on 19th October 1928, the Portadown Times reported that an estimate of £17 18s 6d had been submitted to light the teacher’s residence in Poyntzpass with electricity. It is not known who the first customer for electricity in Poyntzpass was, or when, nor is it clear where the power was generated. This was still the era of isolated generators before the existence of a nationwide electric grid.
By the early 1930s, the high-voltage grid was being rapidly extended outwards from Belfast. In November 1932, the Belfast News-Letter reported:
“The transmission lines to Lisburn have been extended to…Armagh and are in course of construction from Armagh to Markethill and Poyntz Pass…and from Poyntz Pass to Bessbrook and Newry…The Board are pushing forward the low tension distribution systems…where practicable, the Board are adopting the undereaves method of distribution, which is both neat and inconspicuous.”
Early in 1934 the Electricity Board acquired “undertakings in… Poyntzpass…” and elsewhere. Had Patrick White’s generating station been built? What powered it? Was this what had been acquired?
The Electricity (Supply) Act (Northern Ireland) 1931 created a state-appointed Electricity Board for Northern Ireland.
On 5th March 1932, plans were announced to run an 11kV electrical transmission line from Poyntzpass[2] to Warrenpoint, with power being supplied from Belfast.
At a meeting of Newry No. 2 RDC on 8th October 1936, Mr J Best proposed to have Poyntzpass streets lighted by electricity. Out with the oil lamps!
[1] According to BIF, Vol 7, 1994, p98, Barney Corr also known as “Lazy Barney” had been appointed as lamplighter in 1894. This is at odds with the later item from 1899 that funding for oil for the lamps, and for maintenance, had still not been agreed.
[2] This implies that Poyntzpass was already supplied by that time from Belfast.