Protest over reduction in BOI services in town

Following news that the Bank of Ireland in Ballymote is to withdraw all customer services from Wednesday August 9 th, one local resident has said ‘enough is enough’ and is helping organise a protest on Friday 4 th August at 1.30pm outside the Bank of Ireland to highlight what she calls, ‘ the growing disregard for rural Ireland’.

Máire Doddy, a senior citizen from Aughris, Ballymote and well-known within the local community and voluntary sector has said ‘it’s time for the ordinary citizen to take a stand on the constant downgrading of local services in the west of Ireland, especially in our rural communities.’

She adds: “The ending of customer counter services in our local Bank of Ireland, a decision taken by faceless people in Dublin, is bad for local businesses, bad for local jobs and bad for those, especially senior citizens, unfamiliar with bank machines. Coupled with the decision to close the local Ulster Bank it is a bad day for Ballymote and surrounding communities.”

Marie concluded: “I think enough is enough and I’m call- ing on other members of the wider community, regardless of their background, their political persuasion or whether they use the bank at all to stand with us on Friday 4 th August. This affects us all here. The County Council has already unanimously supported a Sinn Féin motion seeking to retain existing services.

“When the downturn came, the Irish people bailed out Bank of Ireland. Now we need Bank of Ireland – which we still part own – to stand by communities such as ours.” Contact Maire at: 086 365 0536.

Maire Doddy outside the Ballymote branch of Bank of Ireland last week. Bank of Ireland say Ballymote branch is adopting the ‘Advice & Self Service’ model and coin transaction or foreign exchange services will no longer be available.