Last-ditch effort to halt closure of Crosshaven Post Office

An Post and local representatives have appealed to anyone interested in taking over the post office to come forward 

People in Crosshaven say losing the post office — due to the impending retirement of the current postmaster — would be a major blow to the community.

A last-ditch effort to find a new postmaster for a pretty and vibrant Cork seaside village has been made before the post office there closes this month.

Although An Post said it advertised the impending vacancy in Crosshaven, Co Cork twice, and canvassed local businesses for potential interest, no one applied for the contract.

Losing the post office would be a major blow to the community, locals say.

The postmaster at Crosshaven Post Office, Sarah McGrath, tendered her resignation earlier this year with a request for a last day of December 31.

“Over the last two months, we have again canvassed interest locally but to no avail,” said An Post public affairs manager Angus Laverty.

At this stage, and having exhausted all options around finding a new contractor in Crosshaven, the only available option is closure of the Post Office on December 31.

 Vital post office services, including Department of Social Protection payments such as pensions, will then transfer to Carrigaline Post Office, some 7.9km away.

“We will begin work now on assisting customers to move to Carrigaline or other offices which might be more appropriate to their individual circumstances,” Mr Laverty said. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused." 

Of the 906 post offices operated across the country, only 45 are operated by An Post, the rest are run by independent contractors.

Postmasters are paid per transaction. Experience working in a post office is not required to become a postmaster, and many people come from other business backgrounds, including financial institutions and retail, Mr Laverty said.

Any interested parties can contact An Post with a proposal for a Crosshaven post office, he said.

Eoghan Fahy, Sinn Féin candidate for the area in next year's local elections, said that the community has not given up on finding a suitable candidate to take over the contract.

“Post Offices are a vital community hub within our towns and villages," Mr Fahy said. 

“They provide a wide range of service and are the pulse of many communities. This is very worrying for the community in Crosshaven." 

We spoke to An Post yesterday. They informed us they would respond to anyone who comes forward willing to take the post.

Mr Fahy said postmasters provide a vital service to communities and he thanked Ms McGrath for her time in Crosshaven.

“I and [Cork South-Central TD] Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire urge An Post to continue to seek an alternative with the community. This would be a blow to Crosshaven.

“This will see the loss of a vital service within the community and will be pressure on those who use the services most. This is an excellent and exciting opportunity for a new role as a postmaster.”