Community 'numb' after PO appeal failure

 

“It’s a grave injustice that has been delivered onto the community!” said Eamonn Sexton, chair of the ‘Save Killeshandra Post Office’ committee, after learning the town has failed in its appeal against the proposed service closure later this month.

In all, some 159 post offices are earmarked for closure by An Post nationally in the current wave. Of those, there are a dozen local closures planned including Corraneary, Killeshandra, Kilnaleck, Mountnugent, Swanlinbar and Tullyvin in Co Cavan; and Clontibret, Dartrey and Smithborough in Co Monaghan. Others include Aughavas, Killargue, Aghacashel and Newtowngore, Co Leitrim; and Carnaross in Co Meath.
The cull of post offices targeted those within a 15km radius of another post office, or those that serve a population of less than 500 people.
However, a total of 33 appeals against the closures were lodged including in relation to the Killeshandra and Kilnaleck branches.
The irony is that Mr Sexton and the Killeshandra committee had not yet received an official letter confirming the appeal’s failure when The Anglo-Celt contacted him yesterday morning (Tuesday). However, by lunchtime, his and the local campaign group’s worst fears were confirmed.
Mr Sexton told the Celt: “It is an understatement to say that the committee are left numb and dumbfounded by the decision.”
He added: “A substantial, competent and well-articulated appeal document was submitted, and it’s clear to us now that the contents of that have been ignored in arriving to his decision.”
As a result, local post office customers now face a journey to Carrigallen, Co Leitrim, some 9.5km away.
“I strongly feel that the continuance of a post office facility in Killeshandra is a reasoned and honest consideration,” said Mr Sexton, who further warned that the matter would “not be let lie”.
He’s calling once again on local elected officials to campaign on the town’s behalf. “All we’ve asked for a co-location of a new post office to be allowed, on a temporary contract of three to five years and take let it stand or fall on its own business terms,” he added.

Cavan-Monaghan Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth has meanwhile stated that the loss of post offices in rural towns and villages, not just Killeshandra, will impact for “generations to come”.

“I am flabbergasted by the Killeshandra decision. As I feel for Kilnaleck too, I believe both have a strong business case made for retention. My main concern is there was not a full understanding of the affects this decision will have. In 2013 the bank shut its doors, amid promises people conduct their financial transactions at Post Offices instead. Then the Credit Unions shut down. Its just cut after cut and rural Ireland cannot survive if this is to carry on.”