Protests fail to stop post office from relocating

Peaceful protests had failed to stop the closure of a post office in a village community in the heart of Cork City.

After 100 years of service, Blackpool village lost its local post office.

But the doors of a new post office opened yesterday at Blackpool Shopping Centre, nearby.

Bill Dunlea said the local campaign had showed the spirt of the village people. “Despite the stresses and strains of recent weeks,” he said, “the warmth of the residents shone through. If anything, the sense of community spirit has made us closer.”

An Post officials had been heckled on Friday night as they closed, for the last time, the post office which served a community for a century.

Dozens of people had stood in front of the post office and chanted “shame on you”, “we don’t trust An Post”, and “out, out, out”.

It had been their sixth peaceful public protest as part of a campaign to save the branch.

“An Post had refused at every opportunity to meet with us,” said Mr Dunlea.

More than 6,000 signatures were collected in a petition but An Post insisted the new branch, which will be run by Tom Scally, will deliver a better service from the shopping centre.