RESIDENTS OF Ringsend and Irishtown in Dublin held a rush-hour protest yesterday evening against the impending closure of their post office.
Services are being moved to Barrow Street, 1km away, following the closure of the Spar convenience store in which the Ringsend office was located.
Residents of the Dublin village say the change will cause inconvenience for locals, especially the elderly, who will have to use a bus to access the new post office.
Lorraine Barry, manager of Ringsend and Irishtown community centre, said she was incensed at the decision by An Post.
“The post office has always remained a focal point in the community situated at the heart of Ringsend. With this new location, locals will struggle to make the journey, especially pensioners, mothers and people with disabilities in the community, as it is a good distance from any bus stop.”
An Post said it regretted the closure of the post office but had no other option now that the lease was up on the premises. “We would rather stay in the village but have to move because we can find no other suitable location,” a spokesman said.
The move was postponed for a time at the request of local people, he said, but now An Post was “at the end of the road”.
One option considered was to open the post office in a Tesco Express store but the refurbishment costs were too high.
An Post said the move would take place in mid-August. However, residents have vowed to continue their protests until the decision is reversed.
