"I can't believe I'll never have to get down on my knees to clear the grate again - Cinderella I called myself," Ms Angela O'Neill said as she watched her new gas central heating system being installed.
Ms O'Neill and her husband, Christopher, have lived in their house in Killinarden estate, Tallaght, for 23 years and have always used a coal fire for heating and hot water.
"Until now we've had to spend €40 to €45 a week to keep it going, which is a hell of a lot for us. We've been told this isn't going to cost anywhere near as much, maybe €12 a week."
On top of the cost of coal, Ms O'Neill said there was also the extra cost of electricity for the immersion heater when the fire wasn't running.
"You would have to use the immersion for a bath if you didn't have the fire on all day, and in the winter it's always very hard to keep the house warm."
Her four children, who are all grown and have left home, live in houses with central heating and have been advising her for years to have a new system installed. "We did get it priced, but it would have cost €3,500 for the 10 radiators you would need in the house. We would have had to borrow for it."
Apart from the savings from the new system, Ms O'Neill said it would mean less work for her. "We keep the coal out the back and when it's lashing rain and you've to go and get it, it's a mess and it's hard work. I've never lived in a house with central heating so I'm delighted with this."
