‘I loved every day’

SPECIAL DELIVERY Fiona and Aoife Murphy present Jo McManamon with a gift on her retirement at the Post Office in Newport. Pic: Michael McLaughlin


Emotional scenes as Newport thanks postmistress Josephine for loyal service

Anton McNulty

THERE were emotional scenes on Newport’s Medlicott Street last Friday as the McManamon family’s almost 60 years of service to An Post and the local community came to an end.
Tears were in the eyes of outgoing postmistress Josephine (Jo) McManamon when she closed the post office door for the final time. As she did so she was greeted on the street by a huge number of Newport residents, who came out to thank her for her many years of loyal service.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all … I’m actually shocked,” she told The Mayo News. “I am emotionally shocked. I love Newport, and I am happy and sad to be leaving. It is a bittersweet pill, but it was time for change.”
Josephine took over the running of the post office in 2000, following in the footsteps of her mother Breege, who became the postmistress in Newport in 1961.
Christy Loftus acted as MC for the occasion. “Josephine and the McManamon family are part of a proud tradition of service for the delivery of post for Newport, Mayo and across the world,” he told the crowd who had gathered in her honour.
He added that it was ‘a tribute to her commitment and dedication and good humour and general persuasion’ that so many people made it their business to be there on her last day. “There is no doubt that the hallmark of Josephine’s time as postmistress was the welcoming, friendly and good-natured manner in which she dealt with her customers,” he said.
On behalf of the Newport Business Association, Mary Keane made a presentation to Josephine and thanked the McManamon family for their work in the community and wished her well going forward.
Fighting back the tears, Josephine thanked everyone for the reception and told them that the public made her job a joy to do.
“All you people coming in and out over the years made my job a joy. I thank you so much. I loved every day you came in and out to me and it was so easy because you made it so easy. It has been great,” she said, while thanking her family for the support they have given her.
There has been a postal service in Newport for over 300 years. It was established in 1726, and Christy Loftus took delight in explaining that it was another 30 years before Castlebar followed suit and even greater delight in saying it was another 100 years before Westport got its first post office.
Thankfully, the service will continue, with Michael and Mary O’Haire and family taking over and relocating the new post office on Castlebar Street. Josephine urged the community to support them to ensure the service remains in the town.
“I ask you all to look after them and they will look after you. It is up to you to support it because it is no good if you do not use it.”