THE people of Lettermacaward came out in force tonight to send a message to Minister Pat Rabbitte: “We won’t let you close our post office.”
Politicians from all sides united behind the local community as An Post admitted its review of their services could see the local post office closed.
Under its policies, every time a post master or post mistress retires, and the post office business case is not met, it shuts it.
But tonight people aged from nine to 90 said ‘No’ to the proposed closure.
Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher was among those who welcomed the large crowd that attended public meeting she called to save Lettermacaward Post Office.
“The strength of numbers that turned out tonight has sent a strong message to An Post that the people of Lettermacaward will not sit idly by and watch local services stripped from their community,” said Cllr Gallagher
“I would like to congratulate all those who took part and attended the meeting, there is a lot of work to be done between now and the deadline for submissions to retain the post office on the ninth of May, and I pledge my support to the committee.
“There were many heartfelt contributions from the community of the importance of the retention of the Post Office to them individually and as a community.”
Outgoing postmaster Brian Cannon spoke eloquently and pleaded with all present to stand together and fight for their community – and fight for their post office.
A local committee was formed on the night and are meeting on Friday 25th at 8.30 to decide the next steps to retain Post Office services in Lettermacaward.