’Biggle loses postal service

Calls made for An Post to resolve Inishbiggle postal problem

Anton McNulty

ISLANDERS living on Inishbiggle will have to travel to Achill to collect their pension and social welfare payments, after it was announced that the postal service on the island will cease this Friday, August 8.
The Post Office which was operated by the O’Malley family on the island for over 60 years closed in May 2003, but Bridget O’Malley continued to operate it as a Postal Agency. Islanders could avail of postal services every Friday when the postal agent travelled to the island and locals could buy stamps and collect Department of Social and Family Affairs payments. However, that service is due to cease this Friday and residents have been asked to direct their postal business to Achill Sound Post Office.
The decision to cease the service on Inishbiggle was met with disappointment by Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring who called on An Post and the Minister for Community, Rural and Social Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív to investigate ways of assisting the residents of Inishbiggle.
Deputy Ring said that Mrs O’Malley was only receiving 36 cent per transaction and claimed that An Post were basically getting the service for free.
“There is no retail outlet on the island so unfortunately there will be no access to cash on the island. This is truly disappointing for the community of Inishbiggle. It will prove to be a major inconvenience for them. An Post are getting rid of the rural post office by stealth and they are not paying people to make it a viable business.
“Some weeks Mrs O’Malley was only getting paid €7.60 per week and An Post were basically getting the service for free. I am calling on An Post to see if there is anyone in the locality who could take on this service in an agency capacity to try and provide some type of postal service to the residents of Inishbiggle. I am also calling on Minister Ó Cuív to investigate what can be done to assist the people of Inisbiggle in this situation with a view to perhaps training somebody on the island to take up this service,” he said.
Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny TD, said he was in contact with An Post and was told by them that they are also aware of the difficulties posed by the temporary closure of the Postal Agency and are working to rectify this matter. He added that he hoped the service could be re-opened on Inishbiggle similar to the situation in Ballindine which was successfully resolved.
“It is regrettable that services may have to cease, however, An Post had a similar situation recently in Ballindine and successfully resolved the matter. I look forward to seeing this matter speedily resolved and the Postal Agency being re-opened as soon as possible,” he said.