‘A viable business' says retiring post mistress

The closure of the post office in Clonmellon should only be temporary because it is a viable business, according to the village postmistress, who retired last week.

The once bustling village finds itself without a post office for the first time in more than a century after popular postmistress Eileen Gavigan's retirement on Wednesday.

A number of local businesses expressed an interest in taking over the service, however, An Post have decided to close the office on a “temporary basis” while it conducts a review of its national network.

With reports suggesting that An Post will close up to 400 rural posts offices after it completes it reviews, locals fear that the village will lose this vital service for good, a development that will hit the elderly the hardest.

Social welfare and pension recipients who received their weekly payments in the post office now have to travel to Athboy. An Post have also advised customers that all other postal services can now be carried out in Kells and Delvin.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner on the day of her retirement, Mrs Gavigan reflected on her 27 years as postmistress saying that it was a “pleasure” to serve the people of Clonmellon.

Her husband Paddy became postmaster in 1960 and she took over the role in 1990. Although she says that the post office experienced an increase in business in recent years, she believes that the “powers that be want it closed”.

“There hasn't been a fall off in business. It had improved. With the population increasing around here, it made a big difference.”

Linda Mulvaney from Gala, which is located a short distance from the post office, said that they had contacted An Post about taking over the service but had not received a response.

Describing the closure of the post office as a “very sad day for the vllage”, she said that many local firms derived much of their business from people coming into the village to go to the post office to collect their pension or dole.

“It's terrible. There are a lot of people in the village who have no transport so how are they going to get their pensions?”she asked.

“We have a ramp here, we have plenty of place, we have a safe, cameras. They just wanted to close it I suppose. I'm devastated.”

Noel Leonard, the proprietor of Leonard's Shop, says that he was initially interested in taking over the service until he was informed that it would cost in the region of €40,000 to make the necessary renovations to meet An Post's critieria.

Mr Leonard says that it appears that An Post want their services in “big shops” rather than smaller outlets such as his own, which means that it is unlikely that Clonmellon will have a post office in the future.

“It's very sad. It was a popular post office and we got a fair bit of custom from people drawing their pensions there.”

In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner, An Post said that “the interest of local businesses in possibly taking up a vacant contract in Clonmellon would only arise once a decision has been made about its future”.