Three Ulster Bank branch closures branded 'a disgrace' by locals

Following the decision of Ulster Bank to close branches in Belturbet, Kilnaleck and Killeshandra, SEAMUS ENRIGHT travelled to the affected towns to gauge the reaction on the people on the street and local businesses to the latest bank branch closures. Geraldine Clarke, owner of Clarke's Shop on Main Street, Kilnaleck says she is "very annoyed" that a decision has been made to close the local branch of Ulster Bank in the town. Located right next door, she says, not only for her own business, but for others too, that the closure will have a serious impact. "In many ways the bank here is the bedrock of the town. It's the bedrock for businesses here and it's the bedrock in bringing people to the town to do their business. These people then call into small shops such as ourselves. If it goes, it'll be a very bad thing for many people." She says though, if a decision to close the branch is set in stone, of paramount importance is that Ulster Bank would secure a cash-point on the Main Street. "It's as important if not more to have a bank in a town like this," she says, adding that the distance to the next nearest branch in Ballyjamesduff will be of major inconvenience to the many people living rurally, whose only access to banking services locally is in Kilnaleck. "The rural transport bus comes into and stops in Kilnaleck for people as it goes on to Cavan, what'll happen now? It's very disappointing." Oscar Fagan from Kilnaleck says that the bank's imminent closure was "bloody typical". "It's an absolute joke, a disgrace. I'm not happy and I'm sure there's many more like me." A farmer living on the outskirts of the town, Oscar says he would regularly travel into Kilnaleck with part of his itinerary stopping off at the Ulster Bank. "It means now that farmers coming to town to do their business will have to go to Ballyjamesduff, sure that'll only mean that they'll do their business there too, it makes sense, but it'll be very bad for the town. "It's more of the same, more taking away from rural Ireland. But they're not going to change this, they'll close the doors and make no more of it and leave nothing at all in the smaller towns." Paul Conaty, Ballinagh believes that the closure will have a "terrible affect" for the people of Kilnaleck, particularly those who don't drive or have transport. A student, he adds, "even now I keep getting letters in the post asking me to sign up to internet banking and all of that, paperless statements, it seems to be the way it's all going, pushing people out of going into the banks themselves. But sure that's no good for some people". Kathleen Farrelly, Fragrant Flowers, Main Street, Killeshandra told the Celt she is "absolutely disgusted" by the proposed closure of the Ulster Bank branch in her town. "The bank gone will close the whole town, it's vital for businesses and local people in so many different ways. It going now really is the final straw, there's not much else that can go out of this town, it's scandalous," she said. "The number of people who come into town here and do their few bits, visit the bank and then of course visit a few of the town's other businesses, that's vital for people's survival." Kathleen says she won't be allowing her bank accounts to be transferred to Arva, saying it's much easier instead to travel to Ballyconnell as an alternative. Elizabeth Sweeney, Killeshandra said: "It's desperate, absolutely desperate. When it closes it will be terribly missed." A non-driver, she says for people like herself it will be incredibly difficult, bar relying on the kindness of others for transport, to be able to travel to Arva to conduct her banking related business. "It's going to leave the place a ghost town, so many people come from outside of Killeshandra to come to the bank, it's a terrible pity, very unfair. I'm not looking forward to seeing it shut." Cyril Reilly, Killeshandra branded the closure in Killeshandra "a disgrace". "This will affect local businesses something awful come down the line. Wages from local shops are paid into that bank, takings are lodged, all of that is going to be taken away now. You really do take it for granted until you hear it's gone." Maurice Lyndsay, Enniskillen spoke to us as he was travelling through Belturbet. He used the bank machine located at the Ulster Bank branch on Holborn Hill, saying it was a regular occurrence for him when travelling through the town as he went on to conduct business in the surrounding area. "It's handy, I use my card to take out euros, I'm passing through and it's much easier than having to go into Cavan Town to get cash. "I can't imagine the bank not being here, I've stopped here that many times it's just become regular. It's very disappointing but that's the banks for you, they don't care about anyone." Jackie Reilly, Belturbet asks: "What do they expect people to do, keep the money in their mattresses? That'll be a whole other problem now, people keeping money in their homes now will mean that they're a bigger target for robbers breaking in, this'll do no-one any favours, no-one except the banks." Jackie remembers a time when Belturbet had three banks. "The town was thriving, there was businesses everywhere. Yes a lot of that has gone now but if you're asking was Belturbet bank quiet enough for it to close? Of course, it wasn't! Sure there's people in and out of there every day, it'll be very hard now for people to travel to Ballyconnell," she says, also remembering now other local services such as the Social Welfare office and the court were closed and relocated in Ballyconnell. Raymond Johnston, Independent Town Councillor and local butcher expressed his disappointment but was resigned to the closure. "If they've made up their mind, that's it, they'll not listen to anything but the jingle in their pockets." Raymond says, however, it is vital that the cash-point is maintained. "Any day of the week, time of the night, at the weekend and especially during the summer months when we see a lot of visitors come into this town, you will see a queue at that bank machine. It's sickening the decision that's being made, made over our heads and behind our backs. That bank's been there a lifetime in this town, but what does that mean to them? Nothing!" He adds that the closure of the Ulster Bank branch is a "huge worry" for a town, which "has already suffered a lot, it's another thing gone".