Two week deadline for Ballynacally PO

WITHOUT a village shop or post office since October 30, the prospect of Ballynacally again acquiring a post office service appear remote, unless An Post receive a suitable application before the end of this month.

So far, An Post has received just a single expression of interest in operating a postal agency. However, in a letter to Ballynacally Fine Gael TD Pat Breen, An Post chief executive, Donal Connell, said the proposed premises is located outside the Ballynacally catchment area. Mr Connell has not, however, completely ruled out opening a postal agency in Ballynacally if a proprietor and premises are found within two weeks. 
“Be assured that we are prepared to give favourable consideration to any suitable application for a postal agency in Ballynacally, which might be forthcoming between now and year end,” he explained in the letter.
Ballynacally post office and shop closed almost two months ago having been in the Hehir and Tighe families for generations, leaving the village with three pubs but no retail outlet.
“I would urge anybody who is interested in taking over the postal agency to immediately apply to An Post as they are now willing to open applications until the end of the year,” Pat Breen stated.
“I am hoping that some expressions of local interest will be forthcoming, otherwise, the postal agency will be permanently lost to our community,” he warned.
“Bit by bit vital services are being removed from rural communities whether it is the post office or local garda station and, as a result, people are being left isolated in rural areas,” Deputy Breen concluded.