North Mayo to connect to fibre broadband network today

Almost 1,500 homes, businesses and farms in North Mayo can avail of a high-speed connection today.

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), who are delivering fibre broadband under the National Broadband Plan, has said there are 1,547 Mayo properties in its Carrowmorelacken deployment area that can now avail of a high-speed fibre broadband connection. 

This includes the rural areas and townlands surrounding Killala, Ballycastle and Rathlacken.

2,813 properties across the county have already connected to the network, with 10,481 homes, businesses available to pre-order the broadband. 

One-hundred-year old Mayo woman, Bridget Joyce, reflected on times with no electricity in rural Mayo as she connected to the fibre broadband.

_{100 year-old Mayo woman, Bridget Joyce, connected to the network last month}

Ms Joyce said: “We were living a long time with no electricity. I remember the days when we carried paraffin oil a mile from the town on our way to school and carried it home again. We did this until the 1960s, when electricity finally came to our village.

“Now, with fibre broadband, I can do so much from home. I would have never believed what could be done. I’m able to watch Mass and keep up with everything – all online. The Westnet team connected our home to NBI’s fibre network and even hooked up my iPad. It’s great to get that level of support,” she continued.

Network build works are continuing across Mayo, with Achill Island premises due to be connected between January and March next year. 

The plan, which NBI is rolling out on behalf of the Government, includes 37,000 Mayo premises in its State’s Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. 

As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Mayo will receive a €145 million Government investment under the National Broadband Plan. 

Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said the connection enables  ‘those who connect to experience the life-changing benefits of high-speed broadband with minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second’.

“Almost 10,500 homes, businesses and farms in Co Mayo can now order a high-speed fibre connection to the NBI network. This includes over 2,150 premises near Ballina, over 2,00 near Castlebar, almost 1,800 near Newport, over 2,000 near Liscarney and over 1,000 premises in the Killadoon deployment area,” he added. 

NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility and register for updates on their website to receive regular notifications related to progress in their area.