It is not surprising then that even by 1962; the Alms Houses had no indoor plumbing or electricity. The twenty-two residents, the oldest of whom was ninety-three year old Bridget Riordan, had to use oil lamps and collect water from an outside pump. That year, 1962, brought outcry from the public as although the Corporation was investigating installing running water, they were not responsible for providing heat or light.

This inspired the local community to set up a fund to get electricity into the buildings. This included publican Michael Crowe who acted as the spokesman for the committee. Crowe played his part by putting an extra penny on each pint sold. Soon £150 was raised. The morning that the electricity was installed, the widows were taken out to Shannon airport for dinner and dancing. When they returned home afterwards, they found the Alms Houses glowing with light. Bridget Riordan managed to use the electricity in her home at 3 Widows’ Alms House for a number of years before she passed away on February 25, 1969.

Although the houses were connected to the main water supply soon after they received electricity, it would take another five years before inside toilets were added to each of the Alms Houses.