The Last Post - Iconic Westport post office closes its doors after 125 years
Post office will be reopening in Kavanagh's SuperValu on Shop Street on Monday at 11am
Postmaster Eamonn Gannon shut the doors of the Westport Post Office for the final time at 3.36pm today Friday, June 19, ending more than 125 years of the postal services on The Mall.
After more than forty years working in the building, the postmaster told The Mayo News it was an “emotional day” and fondly remembered the “many fine people” he had worked with over the years.
The Mayo News revealed in April that the post office would be moving location to a purpose fitted co-located premises in Kavanagh's SuperValu on Shop Street on June 22 and that all the postal services will continue to be provided at the new location.
Looking ahead to the new location, Eamonn said, “Please God, everything will work out for us. I'm looking forward to serving the people of Westport. And I hope the people of Westport will support us.”
Postman Tom Burns said it was a “momentous day.” A veteran with more than twenty two years experience, he thought it was a sad day for Westport.
Looking fondly around the historic purpose built post office, he speculated that the building will always be known as the Post Office, even when its closed for twenty years.
Sean Hyland has great memories of his forty nine years working on The Mall.
“They say it’s progress but I don’t know”, he said, reflecting the changing nature of work where people are now less likely to remain with the same company for life, he recounted starting in the post office at fifteen and says that future generations won’t have the same attachment to their work as they change workplaces.
Noel Brady also had many happy memories of working nights, sorting letters and meeting all the people of the town from nearly thirty years working in the Westport Post Office; he told The Mayo News it was a sad day to see it close.
Gerard O’Malley worked in the post office for thirty four years as both a postman and was the last manual sorted in the post office.
He remembers many of the great characters and described the post office as “a home from home.”
Having loaded the last letters and parcels into the An Post van, Tom Burns drove the post out of the Westport Post Office on The Mall for the final time.