'I would do it all over again' says iconic Mayo postman heading for retirement

Mayo man Jimmy Coen recently retired after 37 years as a postman in the region.

The Hollymount native was following in the footsteps of his father, Pake, who died in 2018 and who covered a wide area from Robeen to Scardaune in those times.

For Jimmy, it was a labour of love. He covered Hollymount, Kilmaine and a big hinterland around Claremorris. Every day was an education for Jimmy who learned so much from the wonderful rural people who became his extended family.

“I would do it all over again. It was such a fantastic part of my life,” said Jimmy when I spoke to him on Thursday. “I loved going to work every day.

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My father was a postman for many years, starting off delivering post on his bicycle and progressing to the car and the van. He was so dedicated to the job that when snow made other ways impossible to get around, he would get on his chestnut mare and go around to the villages delivering the post.

“He covered the Scardaune area for several years and I had the privilege of doing the same. I got to know all the people of the area so well and they became like family to me.

I covered the Knock area for a time after the passing of Michael Dolly and also your home area of Cloonmore, Cuiltybo, Mace and Ballyfarna.

“There was a woman in the area that I covered for some years that was very fond of writing regular letters. Every time she had a letter to post, she would put up a small piece of timer with a white cloth attached and I would know I was to stop and collect the letter. That was how personal the job was and how one had such a familiarity with the people.

“There was another woman who always insisted on blessing me with holy water when I called around. I often thought I must have been the most blessed postman in Ireland!”

Jimmy’s love for rural people is beyond question and he says that it is imperative that we cherish the lovely culture in which we were raised over the years: “Everyone will reach a milestone in their lives and we have to make sure that we are there to make a difference. Always be prepared to check on neighbours, especially those who are alone and elderly.

“I found it came natural to me to visit people on my post run even at times when I did not have a letter for them. The post person is often a safety net for those people. There is always a way to facilitate people. That is so important to maintaining what keeps our society together.”

The last day on the postal run was an amazing one for Jimmy: “So many people were waiting for me and it was amazing the response from around the region. The amount of requests and goodwill expressed by callers to Midest Radio was overwhelming and I found it very emotional.

“It was also a day when I recalled special friendships with my colleagues and chief among them was Jimmy Mongan from Ballygowan, Claremorris.

We have soldiered together for many years and we have got on famously during all of that time.”

Jimmy was honoured at a special retirement get-together in Connolly’s (Finnerty’s) in Hollymount attended by his wife Kathleen and the family circle and friends along with colleagues from An Post.

Pat Butler, Seán Murphy, Padraig Hughes and Connie (Kirrane) Fitzpatrick represented An Post at the presentation ceremony.
Also present were some colleagues who have retired from the service including Christy Heneghan, Gerry Brennan, Jimmy Tully, Austin Lyons and Gerry Prendergast.

Jimmy also fondly recalled Michael John Ronayne and Michael Dolly, who died during their time with An Post and who he described as “genuine people’s people.”

We wish Jimmy a healthy and contented retirement and, no doubt, he will continue to serve his community and region in many other ways in the times ahead.

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