100-year-old Mayo woman reminisces as she connects to NBI’s fibre network

A 100-year-old Mayo woman has been connected to National Broadband Ireland’s fibre network.

As Bridget Joyce joined the high speed fibre broadband network, she recounted the days without electricity in rural Mayo in the 1960s.

Almost 10,500 Mayo homes, farms and businesses can now connect to high-speed broadband.

The connection access in rural Mayo comes after an investment of €145 million from under the Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP).

With high-speed fibre broadband, Ms Joyce stays connected with her local community from home, enjoying simple daily pleasures, such as reading the news online and watching Mass.

Born in Kilbride, Newport National Hospital in 1924, Ms Joyce is the latest customer to connect to high-speed fibre broadband under the NBP. 

She recalled the days of her youth living in rural Mayo without electricity, and shared her memories of carrying paraffin oil from the nearby town back to her family home.

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.

_{NBI connected customers, Bridget Joyce and her granddaughter, Fiona Hyland}

Minister Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, called it ‘wonderful’ to see people, such as Ms Joyce, experiencing the benefits of high-speed fibre broadband.

“The Government is determined to ensure that everyone in Ireland, no matter where they live, can enjoy the advantages of high-speed broadband. The National Broadband Plan has made high-speed fibre broadband available to over 260,000 homes, farms and businesses across rural Ireland. As a result, Ireland is now a global leader in digital connectivity and is on target to reach the European Commission’s target of gigabit broadband for all by 2030,” said Mr Smyth.

The Mayo woman now lives with her granddaughter, Fiona Hyland, who said the broadband has ‘done wonders’ for her grandmother. 

“It keeps her engaged and her mind active. It has huge benefits – boosts her mood and prevents cognitive decline, especially if somebody is isolated socially and geographically. It really is her connection to the world.

“I use our broadband connection for online banking and Netflix. It’s massively beneficial to be able to use these services from the comfort of your own home,” she added.

David McDonnelll, Chief Technical Officer at Westnet, said: “It's with great delight that Westnet comes together with NBI to honour a cherished member of the community who, at the incredible age of 100, has embraced the future of Internet connectivity by connecting to Westnet fibre broadband over the NBI™ network. This connection shows that Internet connectivity can enrich lives, no matter of age, keeping families connected and bringing communities closer together.”

For more information on the NBP, see NBI’s website.