Neighbours dial into the past with 1960s phonebox

Neighbours in a close-knit rural community are ringing the changes with an unusual trend in contemporary garden furniture that is bringing a touch of tradition to their homes.

They have turned their backs on the old reliable garden gnomes in favour of a real blast from the past by erecting painstakingly restored telephone kiosks on their driveways.

Two neighbours in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, have already dialled into the past by sourcing and refurbishing old phone boxes that communications companies have deemed long past their use-by date.

Vintage equipment and appliance lover Chris O’Sullivan — the proud owner of a beautifully restored old kiosk — said locals have been so impressed with the finished product they are anxious to follow his example.

Chris, a self-confessed hoarder from Ohermong, Caherciveen, sourced the shell of a 1960s kiosk dumped in a farmyard at the rear of Mastergeehy Post Office in south Kerry. It is now in pristine condition on his front lawn.

“It is one of the original kiosks made of sheer concrete, and I have had help from neighbours and friends to restore and paint it,” he said. “It is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.”

Chris spent several weeks working on the project, and his attention to detail seen a purpose-built door manufactured for the kiosk, an old “button A and B” coin box refitted with a 50-year-old timer switch, and a retro wooden shelf hand-crafted, on which phone books are stored.

Old Telecom branding and miniature panes of glass — a distinguishable feature of the green and gold-painted public phoneboxes — were also replicated and fitted.

“We even worked on the electrics so that the phone kiosk lights up at night and all we are missing now is the traditional black handset which I hope to have in a few weeks,” said Chris.

Even though the telephone itself cannot be adapted to make or accept calls, Chris said the €1,000 invested in the project was money well spent, as the phonebox was a sight to behold.

“It’s certainly more attractive than a garden gnome and from the reaction I’m getting, I think I might have started a craze,” he said.