Six islands off the west and north-west coasts are to be provided with mains electricity over the next 18 months in a £650,000 investment programme by the ESB.
The six are Turbot, Inishturk South and Inis Mhic Cionnaith off Co Galway; Islandmore in Clew Bay, Co Mayo; Gola Island off Co Donegal, and Foynes in Co Limerick.
Last week, mains electricity was switched on at Inis Treabhair in Co Galway, one of eight islands to be linked up to the national grid in the past 18 months. It has seven houses, used by permanent and summer residents, and the mains supply means the pier has lighting, and access by sea is safer. Mr Colm Conneely, who owns one of the seven houses, said he no longer needs to use gas lamps for reading at night.
