Ardara seeks memories for 1926 electricity centenary

Donegal GAP Heritage and History Group is calling on the public to help document Ardara’s pioneering hydro‑electric scheme as the town prepares to mark the centenary of electricity arriving in December 2026.

The programme, titled “1926 – The Coming of Light to Ardara”, will run on Friday 4 December and Saturday 5 December 2026 and will feature an ecumenical service of light, an exhibition and an oíche airneáil.

The Ardara Electric Light Company, officially the Ardara Woolen and Industrial Company Ltd., operated a hydro‑electric plant on the Abhainn tSocair (Owentocker River) from 1926 until 1952. Notably, the company never raised charges, charged no ground rent and never disconnected customers for non‑payment.

During the early 1930s droughts, a dam was built to raise the level of Loch Abhainn Fhia (Owenea Lough), with local families in Gleann Domhain (Glendowan) tasked with opening the dam gates to maintain flow.

The group is seeking old photographs, documents, electricity bills, artefacts and personal recollections, especially from those whose relatives worked on the scheme. Submissions are due by Friday 20 November 2026 and can be sent by email to the group.

Organisers say the collected material will ensure the ingenuity and community spirit behind Ardara’s early electricity supply are preserved for future generations.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Giant Asparagus / Pexels.