The joy of rural living

Why do I get the feeling that everyone else is having a good ol laugh at us?

I was never so frustrated about living in a rural area until I tried to get broadband Internet installed. Trying to get broadband where I live is like trying to get Bertie to come clean on his finances. Impossible.

I’ve tried everyone - BT, Vodafone, 02, Eircom -you name it, I’ve tried it. It usually goes something like: “Where do you live? Mmm…. coverage is limited in Donegal. Sorry we can’t help you.”

Hopeful, I’d inquire about the chances of it improving, only to hear a cackle of laughter on the other side of the line. Why is trying to get basic services in Donegal such a joke and why do I get the feeling that everyone else is having a good ol' laugh at us? Probably because they are. I’m sick of hearing my friends say: “I love Donegal, it’s great for a weekend“.  Then comes the but: “But... there’s no buses, broadband or things to do for young people”.

See, that’s the problem, Donegal is great for a weekend but would most people move here and give up services they have got used to elsewhere? I’m not so sure.

I then heard about a scheme that was being implemented around rural Donegal which gave me hope. The Community Networks Services initiative is a scheme that provides broadband Internet to rural areas. I rang up and was told that there was an eight week waiting list but that they would be able to provide me with broadband.  Twelve weeks later I’m still waiting. I was surprised to recently learn that they would not be installing any more broadband until Donegal County Council released more funding. So, even though I have the money needed for installation and the monthly fee, I can’t get Internet because funding has run out. How fair is that? So now I’m playing a waiting game.

For the past few months, every time I need to use the Internet I’ve gone to Letterkenny to the Internet cafe. Easier said than done, might I add, since there is no public transport.

Even the trusty Lough Swilly bus has abandoned me. On ringing their office I was informed that there was a daily bus going through Creeslough to Letterkenny, BUT, that it didn’t come back in the evening. Perfect!

Why is it that people have come to expect such poor services in Donegal? When the country was booming we never saw any of the wealth that other places experienced, and now that there is a recession we are in serious trouble and will be hit sorely.

So I laugh when people ask me how I like being home from college for the summer. It’s great and I love being home but boy do I miss being able to jump on a bus to go into town.

By: Marie Duffy