Tag Archives: Cratloe Post Office

Cratloe Post Office is to remain open for at least another 18 months it has been announced. Senator Tony Mulcahy said he has received confirmation from An Post that the contract for the operation of the post office, which was due to end this month, has been extended until September 2016. He said An Post’s decision is a credit to the work of the local community and the Cratloe Post Office Action Group which have “campaigned vigorously” against the closure during recent months.” He described the extension of the Post Office contract as “a victory for community action.” “I attended a number of meetings in Cratloe and at the GPO in Dublin at which the people of Cratloe outlined the many reasons why the post office should remain open and how its closure would potentially impact the village and surrounding areas. This community approach worked and has served to convince An Post that its plan to not renew the Post …

Reports that Cratloe Post Office is to close have brought a strong reaction from Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley. He was reacting to a directive from An Post that the office will close in March 2015. “I am shocked at news that An Post plans on closing Cratloe Post Office in March of next year. When An Post first considered closing the Post Office in June, the local community came together and put forward a comprehensive business plan. However, this has now been rejected by An Post,” he said. Continuing, Deputy Dooley said, “I am absolutely shocked that An Post cannot see the benefit and value of the post office to the local community in Cratloe. The business plan presented included proposals on making the post office a viable business. “If the Post Office was to close, then the adjoining shop may also have to close. This would rob the village of two vital local amenities. Rural Ireland has already …

Fears have been expressed over the future viability of the only shop in Cratloe, if the adjoining post office is closed. Cratloe Community Council has urged everyone in the village and surrounding areas to voice their support for the retention of the post office by attending a public meeting next Monday in the community hall at 8.30pm. Acting community council chairperson, Josefa McElligott said a community response is required as quickly as possible to safeguard the future of the shop and post office. In a recent letter to the community council, Dermot O’Brien, who operates the post office in Ashling’s Foodstore, warned that like all small retail businesses, the shop has been hit hard by the recession. “Sales have decreased year-on-year. Turnover is down by almost 50% from six years ago. I regret to say that without the second source of income from the post office, the shop would simply not be viable,” he stated. Councillor PJ Ryan said he …