Up to 400 people are expected to attend a meeting in Lissycasey tonight aimed at saving the post office there.
It’s one of six Clare communities set to lose their local branch after exit packages were offered by An Post to 161 postmasters and postmistresses nationwide.
Almost two weeks ago, it emerged that six of the 14 post office branches in Clare that had been offered redundancy packages by An Post would be closing down.
Cooraclare, Doonbeg, Kilfenora, Cree and Craggagh-Fanore, along with Lissycasey, are set to lose what, for many, is a vital service.
One of the organisers of tonight’s meeting and long-time post office campaigner Francie Daly says it’s another nail in the coffin for their community.
An Post has pledged to ensure that communities of 500 people or more will have a post office, and that everyone will be within at least 15km of a post office.
But arguments have been made in Clare that without the post office, many villages will die.
Local Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ Kelly says people are starting to realise just how serious the situation is for rural Clare and it’s vital that there’s cross-party support for retaining services outside of our towns.
Separately, this Thursday will see a meeting held on the future of the post offices in neighbouring Cree and Cooraclare.
Tonight’s meeting will take place in Lissycasey Community Hall from 8 o’clock.
