Corofin post office reopens

Corofin regained its postal services this week. The post office in the North Clare village closed back in July but services resumed on Monday in a new premises and with a new postmistress.
The new post office opened its doors at the former The Corofin Arms on Main Street. The postmistress is Emer Burke, a member of the well-known local business family, who ran the restaurant until recently.

“My husband John and I used to run The Corofin Arms. We then added a gift shop and so this is extension of that. When the post office, which was next door to us, closed down through unfortunate circumstances, our initial reaction was that Corofin needed its post office opened as soon as possible. We decided to apply. It is so vital to the community and it was a service that was very badly missed,” she told The Clare Champion.

Ms Burke said the response from the community is very positive and she has received lots of good wishes.

“Everyone is very positive. Since Monday, all services that were lost after the closure in July are available here.”
Councillor Joe Arkins from Ruan noted the importance of postal services in the community.

“A lot of people were disappointed when the pervious operator ceased trading. Customers had great time for him.

“The opening of a new post office is good news for Corofin. The post office is part of a sense of community identity in any small town or village. There are quite a number of people in Corofin itself and in its hinterland depending on Corofin for services. Many people didn’t realise how important the post office was until it was in exile in Kilfenora for the past couple of months.

“This is good news. I am very pleased to see it back in operation and I wish Emer Burke well with the new venture. The souvenir shop will be an important addition to the tourism product there too. Hopefully, it will mean people will stop in the town and maybe while they are there go for a drink or meal,” he said.

The new post office will offer a full range of services. “We have always been committed to continuing a full service to the people of Corofin. We are delighted to be in a position to open our new office and delighted to have the Burke family on board in the new business,” An Post retail regional manager Aidan O’Donnell said.