Does anyone remember the ESB strike of 1991?

Raconteuse wrote: »

I was in primary school. It was this time of year - same kinda weather. Longer days but not quite out of winter. They'd cut the power every few hours in different areas, and the media would advise of the "timetable" for power on or off in your locality.

I was reminded of it due to the current situation. Not the same of course but it felt kinda similar in ways with the restrictions it entailed. Made me feel a bit scared as a kid, and I couldn't understand why.

I realise now it was the feeling of vulnerability when something you're so reliant on is gone.

I would have been 12 at the time and how many keepy uppies I could do was my main priority. I dont remember this strike but a wild few years from aged 17 to about 24 has wiped alot of memories

No but then I was abroad and no internet and less chance of Ireland being on the news there.

Before my time but I remember my mother talking about them and how they used parafin lamps and gas heaters to keep the chicken houses warm.

Just like Grandeeod, I was a nipper in the 70's (born in 62) and recall the ESB had full page adverts in the evening papers telling us which areas would have scheduled blackouts. All well and grand, but I recall one of the big wigs for the ESB, his house was literally over the back garden wall and we often have double the cuts - 8 hours instead of 4. While across the road from us rarely had any cuts as there was two large old folks homes close by and the 'far side of the road' was mapped on a different grid from us

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Was in college in Galway for the 1991 one.
It was early spring if I recall.

There were scheduled power outages, remember being annoyed that the pubs would be closed.

I was too. I think it was coming up to exams. We somehow managed to avoid the outages-I think we were on the hospital line.

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

Was your ma Calor Kosangas Housewife of the Year by any chance?

Nah, but she should have been, she made a mean apple tart

Dr. Bre wrote: »

Ye I remember it . It was electric

I'll think you find it wasn't cause they were on strike

sugarman wrote: »

I dont remember the '91 strikes, but I do remember there was constantly power cuts in general right up until late 90s / early 00s.

As in every few weeks, for a few hours or even days at a time.

Probably been one or two in last 15-20 years in comparison.

That’s right actually. I grew up in rural Ireland and it was fairly regular that it could just go randomly. Was very frustrating for dairy farmers, we had a back up linked to the tractor. I often remember that being used, but not in 25 years. Usually we’d say there was a “fault on the line“! We were on a different line to a lot of neighbours and often if at night you could see they’d still have their power. It would just come back then fairly randomly. Definitely well into the 90s, possibly even later as I remember it happening doing homework and using candles! I think the ESB networks was under a lot of strain and was upgraded massively in the past 20 years.
Things have moved in massively on this country that’s why this is such a shock for everyone. Ireland is a different country to what we had in the late 80s/90s things were a lot more laid back and make do. Back then you were very constrained in different ways usually money and poor infrastructure

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Was in college in Galway for the 1991 one.
It was early spring if I recall.

There were scheduled power outages, remember being annoyed that the pubs would be closed.

I remember getting served pints by candlelight during that strike

Had a power cut just after 4pm there, out for 40 minutes. 4G worked for about three minutes and then all the video conferencing work from home gimps piled in, so even accessing a basic text only website became impossible

After the power came back I was able to get onto ESB Power Check (:rolleyes:) and it said there was a fault at the 110kV station in Inchicore. I wonder did some cable go travelling again...