Post Office deadline day

TEN of the 26 post offices offered exit packages in May will not be taking up the offer, The Kerryman can reveal.

With the deadline at time of going to print, 10 post offices confirmed that they will remain open.

Three have also confirmed that they will take the package offered by An Post while a number said they were still undecided, despite the looming deadline.

OVER a third of the Kerry post offices offered a package by An Post to shut down have turned down the offer.

An Post, following consultation with the Irish Postmasters’ Union, made the financial offer to 26 post offices across the county in early May. Ten have rejected the offer outright while a further nine have refused to reveal their intentions, leaving customers in many rural villages and towns in limbo.

The Kerryman contacted all of 26 post offices affected this week, ahead of the deadline for their decision this week which was Tuesday, July 31.

Farranfore, Headford, Kilcummin, Cordal, Abbeydorney, Beaufort, Lisselton, Scartaglin, Lyrecrompane and Blackwater Bridge have confirmed that they will remain open despite the offer of an exit package.

Moyvane, Duagh and Ballylongford Post offices have confirmed that they will be closing their post offices.

Six post offices have declined to comment on whether they are closing but must have informed An Post if they are to do so by close of business on Tuesday. These are Ballinskelligs, Kiflynn, Mastergeehy, Castlemaine, Causeway and Gneeveguilla.

Three more also said they were undecided on Tuesday though the deadline for the decision was the close of business on Tuesday. These are Kilmoyley, Ballymacelligott and Banemore Cross.

At time of print, The Kerryman was unable to contact four post offices – Currow, Knocknagoshel, Asdee and Glenflesk.

Many of those who are remaining open are doing so because of the strong local communities that exist. The postmaster of Blackwater Bridge, which is the post office located at Blackwater Tavern, said that they have strong support in the local community.

“We’re the only post office between Kenmare and Sneem, if we closed people would have to travel to either side to access a post office. We have a good local community so we are not closing”

Scartaglin Post Office confirmed that it would not be taking the package as it was simply “not attractive”.

Farranfore Post Office will also remain open and postmaster Henry Ahern said this week that he was looking forward to continuing to serve the local community.

Ballylongford post mistress Jennifer Allen was one of the first to confirm that she would be taking the package and the local village has launched a campaign to save their post office.

In a letter to An Post, chairman of Ballylongford Enterprise company, Noel Lynch, said that the closure is deterimental to the rural area.

“We feel that this is another major blow to life as we know it and the village as a whole.”

A meeting will take place at Ballylongford Parish Hall on August 1 at 8pm.