Assurances given on Killeigh post office

Fears are growing for the future of Killeigh’s post office, ahead of postmaster Joe Plunkett’s retirement next month.

Speaking this week local councillor Brendan Killeavy said people are concerned that An Post might see Mr Plunkett’s retirement as an opportunity to close the post office.

However local TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy said An Post has confirmed to her that tenders for the continuation of the post office service in Killeigh will be advertised for tender on its website in the coming weeks.

“I have made very strong representations to An Post about this matter and also to the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte, and have impressed on them the very vital nature of the service being provided at Killeigh post office and the need for this service to continue, particularly for the elderly residents of the village and also for those with young families,” Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said.

“I have now been assured by An Post that they will be putting the Killeigh post office contract up for tender on their website in the coming weeks and it will also be advertised locally, so I am hopeful that there will be sufficient interest to allow the service to continue in Killeigh.”

Cllr Killeavy suggested meanwhile that finding someone to take over the contract might not be a problem.

“I have been made aware that there are a number of parties interested in taking over the running of the post office in the village,” he said, “and this would be the ideal way to go as it would, in my opinion, provide an important sense of continuity within the village.”

Cllr Killeavy added that the presence of a working post office in the village is far-reaching. “Let’s not forget that it helps to keep Killeigh alive in other ways too,” he said. “If people have to leave the village to find a post office, then they are more likely to shop outside the village too, for instance.”

Meanwhile it’s understood that outdoor postal staff at An Post in Edenderry that were to be moved to either Enfield or Tullamore as part of restructuring and cost saving projects are to remain in Edenderry.

“The move, had it gone ahead, would have been another dagger in the heart to Edenderry with another service - the postal sorting - going out of town,” Independent councillor Noel Cribbin said.