Donegal island outpost finally switched on

One of the last outposts to be left untouched by rural electrification, Gabhala, or Gola island off the coast of Donegal, was connected to the ESB national grid yesterday.

However, despite its familiarity to generations of Irish college students, the island no longer has permanent residents - the last to leave did so in the 1970s.

No one now lives on the island between November and February.

During the remainder of the year, the part-time population inhabits fewer than 30 houses.

However, there is a very active co-op on Gabhala which lobbied the Department of Community and Rural affairs to provide 80 per cent of the €350,000 cost of yesterday's connection to the mainland. The remaining 20 per cent was paid by the ESB.

In a ceremony conducted by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan on the island yesterday afternoon, six houses were connected to the ESB national grid

Eóin Ó Neachtáin of the ESB said another 20 applications had been received from locals, and their homes would be connected within weeks.

The island, a 10-minute ferry ride from the Donegal coast near Bunbeg, was connected via a 2km undersea cable.

Residents are hoping the benefits of a reliable electricity system will make it possible to stay beyond the usual November exodus and perhaps even encourage some people to return full time. "People are hoping the connection will breathe new life into the island community," said Mr Ó Neachtaín. "It is the last of the larger islands to be connected with the exception of Tory Island which is much, much further out and relies on an ESB generator on the island."