Popular Mayo woman set to retire this Friday after 70 years of service

More than 70 years after starting work as an assistant in Tulrahan Post Office, Catherine Delaney will bring the curtains down on Friday afternoon on an amazing life of service to her local community just a few miles from Cloonfad and Ballyhaunis. It was in the mid-1950s when Catherine Murphy from the neighbouring townland of Carrickacat was invited along to help out postmistress Monica Delaney in the local Post Office.

After the passing of Monica, the Post Office transferred to Catherine’s husband, Johnny Delaney, and she continued the tradition all down the decades with the title of postmistress transferring to her on the passing of Johnny in 1998. “Pension Day on Friday was the big one for so many years. The regulars had their own time to call and meeting up with neighbours was such a part of the day. It was like a rambling house. Everyone knew each other in this region and great stories were recalled and told over and over again,” said Catherine.

People home on holidays from England and America found such a consolation in visiting Catherine at the Post Office. In a changing landscape, it was the rock that still anchored them to home. “Kevin Prendergast loved to visit and have the tea. Whether it was during his years in Manchester and the music business and home on holidays or when he loved back and settled in Brickens, Kevin loved nothing better than reminiscing about former times and the people of this area. “Back in the days when there were no mobile phones and very few house phones, Kevin made many calls from the phone here in the Post Office. I miss him so much. He made nothing of sitting there and singing a song.”

Her son David, a staunch member of the Eastern Gaels Club and also a former Mayo minor footballer, along with his wife Michelle (nee Lyons from Bekan) and their family, Kate and Jack, have all been such a support to Catherine over the years. “I call them the ‘team’ and they are always here for me.” Catherine also served for many years as Sacristan at the local Logboy Church. “I enjoyed it so much and meeting all the lovely people.

It is such a beautiful church along the tree-lined avenue. I have great memories from all those times.” In the week that is in it, memories are rolling back for Catherine. “There have been a fair few postmen who have been part of Tulrahan Post Office down through the years.

Gerry Walsh from Convent Road, Claremorris, delivered the post to us in the morning for many years. Tommy Ronayne has been doing the same for several years now while Johnny Mongan from Ballygowan collects the post in the evening. “I suppose it is a long time to look back to the 1950s but there are times you wonder how the years have flown.

There were a lot more people working on the land in those early times and the children were going to the local school in Tulrahan which closed several years ago now. “So many people have been wishing me well since news broke in recent days about the closing of the Post office. I have got cards and bouquets of flowers and so many messages of goodwill.

I am now fully resigned to retirement but I still want the locals to call in and visit and chat as they have always done down the years,” said Catherine. It is expected that friends and locals will be present on Friday afternoon between 3pm and 4pm when Johnny Mongan will collect the ‘last post’ from Tulrahan Post Office. Catherine and family will have the same warm welcome that has been a hallmark of the Delaney family tradition down the decades. It truly is the end of an era.

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