The lack of activity at centre of Doonbeg village after the local post office closed two weeks ago has been described as “scary”.
The latest attempt to save the local service there has been shot down by An Post, but members of the community say they’re not be ready to give up the fight to save it.
It comes as fresh concern is being expressed in the West Clare village about rural depopulation, as Clare FM’s James Mulhall reports:
In August, Doonbeg’s Post Office was listed as one of six in Clare facing closure as part of the reconfiguration of services by An Post.
Since then, the Cooraclare service has been saved, but the future of the Lissycasey, Craggagh-Fanore, Cree and Kilfenora services hangs in the balance.
A proposal was put forward to move the Doonbeg service to one of the existing businesses in the village but An Post says that’s not viable, because of population size and proximity to other branches.
Local businesswoman Rita McInerney, who’s a Fianna Fáil candidate in the next General Election, proposed that idea and isn’t pleased with how An Post is reviewing applications to save the services.
Caroline Kennedy runs the Igoe Inn Bar and Restaurant in Doonbeg and lives right beside the post office that closed its doors in the past fortnight.
She says in that short space of time, the lack of footfall in the centre of the village is already evident.
Meanwhile, fresh concern is being raised in the West Clare village about rural depopulation and the future of rural Ireland.
A lack of broadband has been highlighted as one of the most pressing challenges facing rural parts, as people are unable to work from areas outside towns without it.
The Inagh based CEO of Muintir na Tíre, Niall Garvey says we’re in danger of losing the character and spirit of our small villages, unless something urgent is done to reverse the trend of people leaving rural Clare.
