The last post played for Martin's of Ballinamore

The Ballinamore Post Office at Martin’s, High Street, conducted its final transaction after 93 years of service last Friday.

The An Post Services were transferred to a new outlet on Main Street as of Monday, December 12. The new Postmaster, Brian Gordon from Mohill, will operate as part of Donohoe’s SuperValu.

The Martin family had operated their business on High Street since 1923 but, at close of business last Friday, the doors shut for the final time.

Brian Martin has been interim postmaster in Ballinamore since his father passed in September of last year. He is understandably saddened that the family business has closed. “This is a huge loss to me. This is what it would feel like to lose the family farm.”

Brian says that he is aggrieved that he has missed out on retaining the contract to provide post office services to the area after his family held the licence for 93 years.

 

Shabbily treated by An Post

Speaking to the Celt, he says that he feels he was shabbily treated by An Post. “There was an initial offer of a licence but that was later withdrawn and re-advertised. In the second application, I lost out. I tried to contact An Post but they did not communicate with me. An Post then came to this premises over the weekend and removed the signage without permission,” he alleged.

A spokesperson for An Post, Angus Laverty, said that An Post had removed their signage from the High Street office to avoid confusing patrons.

He said that the company advertised the vacant postmaster position in Ballinamore late last year. He said that a contractor was appointed to fill the role and that an open and transparent process was followed.

Mr Laverty said: “The successful applicant will now deliver a service in a new purpose-built post office that will best serve the people of Ballinamore. The office will offer the full range of post office services in a purpose-kitted premises which features an Access All counters enabling full access to the post office for customers with mobility issues.”

The closure of Martin’s Post Office on High Street signals an end of an era for Ballinamore. “We got tremendous support from the people of the town in recent times and I want to thank them for that. It is very sad to close the business down. I’m not sure what the future holds for me now,” said Brian.