The Government is being urged not to ignore communities in Clare in need of Post Office services, just because they’re smaller in size.
It follows a public meeting in Lissycasey last night where hundreds attended to air their views on saving the local branch there.
Lissycasey is one of six Clare communities poised to lose their Post Office following voluntary exit packages offered by An Post.
It’s caused huge concern there with hundreds attending a public meeting aimed at saving the service last night.
A committee has been established in Lissycasey which will spearhead a movement to press the importance on An Post of ensuring they don’t lose their post office.
Among those in attendance was Emma Fenton-Sheehan, who is reliant on the services offered by the post office there for her work from home job.
One option they’ve put forward is to move it to Talty’s Store in the centre of the village once the current branch closes, something that’s supported by the retiring post mistress Mary Hanrahan.
Clarecastle native Tom O’Callaghan, who’s the chair of the Independent Postmasters Group, says the meting is evidence that the will is there to save their post office.
He believes that additional services are needed to future proof the network.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD believes the Government shouldn’t turn it’s back on rural communities, purely because of the small number of residents there.
Timmy Dooley, who’s his party’s communications spokesperson, says he’ll be taking a strong message from Lissycasey to the Dáil and indeed to An Post:
However, An Post is due to publish a report by the end of August and Fine Gael Junior Minister Pat Breen says it’s important that people prepare a plan for a viable service.
Separately, another meeting will be held this Thursday in Cooraclare, where people there and in Cree will express their concerns about the closures of those two branches.
