*Photograph: Brendan Cusack.
LISDOONVARA’s post office has been saved at the eleventh hour.
In what is a case of third time lucky, a service operator has been identified which will maintain the future of the post office in North Clare. An Post had advertised the vacancy on three separate occasions.
New postmaster, Megan White succeeds Deborah Stack and will run the post office from Monday.
On Thursday last, An Post in a statement advised that the Lisdoonvarna Post Office is to cease trading on Friday March 28th. “We have exhausted all avenues to try and find a contractor to take on the post office contract there but to no avail,” a spokesperson commented. “An Post apologies to our customers for this closure, which we worked hard to avoid, but were unable to prevent”.
In a new statement this Thursday evening, An Post confirmed that “it will be business as usual at Lisdoonvarna Post Office, in the same premises. from next Monday, 31st March, under the management of a new Postmaster, Megan White. A Post wishes to thank outgoing Postmaster, Deborah Stack for her great service to customers over the years. We wish Megan White every success and look forward to supporting her with the handover of business and the continuity of all Financial Services, Everyday Banking, Postal, and Communications services at the post office. We greatly appreciate the wonderful support of all our customers in Lisdoonvarna and the surrounding areas”.
As first reported by The Clare Echo, a last-minute reprieve has been reached after efforts persisted locally. Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) was among those leading the charge alongside Cllr Shane Talty (FF) and Clare TDs, Joe Cooney (FG) and Timmy Dooley (FF).
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cooney expressed his confidence that a new operator will be secured to save Lisdoonvarna’s post office. “Positive outcomes like this are the result of the local community, including businesses and public representatives like Councillor Joe Garrihy, coming together and working with State bodies. This hard work has avoided a very negative and long-lasting impact on the town of Lisdoonvarna and the surrounding community”.
Deputy Cooney added, “In many other communities across Ireland in recent years, post offices have been relocated into small shops, but in some cases the community is not serviced by shops of a scale that is suitable for this addition to their business, or the owners may not be able to take it on. This should never be a reason why a community, especially one like Lisdoonvarna, would lose such a key public service. I have asked Finance Minister Jack Chambers and Communications Minister Darragh O’Brien to reexamine the low level of financial compensation offered to the operators of such facilities in rural communities and to consider lifting the prohibition around post offices being operated by local social enterprises to ensure such vital services are retained”.
Efforts are ongoing to save the post office in Lahinch. As previously reported by The Clare Echo, Lahinch’s post office is set to close next month, An Post have advertised for applicants to take over the service following the resignation of Shane Talty as postmaster.
There are currently 31 post offices serving the entire county.
