Heaven-sent: Joy as County Limerick village keeps its post office 

ON THE first day that Brian O’Sullivan was the new postmaster in Cappamore he received more than letters.

He got countless hearty congratulations and even a big hug from local lady Esther McKenna on a sunny Monday morning. Jimmy Blackwell, who is retiring, has transferred the contract over to Brian, proprietor of the village’s Centra.

Esther said: “The best of luck, Brian, and thank you so much for saving Cappamore Post Office. I am very thankful to Brian that he brought the post office across the road and that we’re not left without a post office.”

She said Jimmy, his parents and grandparents served Cappamore “very well”. “We will miss Jimmy,” said Esther.

He closed the post office on Moore Street at 6pm on Friday evening and it was opened at 9am on Monday right across the road in the Centra.

Jimmy’s grandfather, Patrick O’Shaughnessy, from Listowel, and his wife Margaret (nee Keating) opened the post office around 1915. They passed it down to their daughter Lilly May who married Mikie Blackwell. In a sign of how times have changed, Lilly May knew morse code. 

Their son, Jimmy, followed in their footsteps and has ran it for decades. When he shut the door of the post office on Friday he brought to a close three generations of postal service. The family have played an integral role in the parish for over a century.

But while post offices are disappearing like spiders’ webs in a storm their legacy will live on in Cappamore.

“I am delighted it is continuing. I want to thank Brian for taking it on and I wish him and his staff every success in the future,” said Jimmy, who wished to thank all his customers over the years.

He said he wouldn’t have been able to run it without his wife, Caitriona.

“I couldn’t believe the response we got from locals in recent weeks. It means so much to them. There has been a queue of people all morning here for the post office in Centra,” said Jimmy, who officially cut the ribbon. The post office is located in a recessed area which assures privacy. It is situated beside the deli so you can have a sausage roll after buying your stamps.

Brian said it was a big honour to be taking over from Jimmy.

“He is the third generation to run it. Jimmy was actually born in the old post office so it is sad for him to close it but you can see by his reaction today that he is delighted to hand over the mantle. We hope to do as good a job as Jimmy has done for the local community,” said Brian, who also owns the Centras in Clarina and Caherconlish.

He said it would be a terrible shame if Cappamore had lost the footfall.

“It is so badly needed in the town. It is great to keep another service for all our customers. We are delighted to be able to do so. We’ve been very lucky the last couple of years. We’ve got great support from the local community. I came in 2016 and we spent a lot of money in revamping and trying to reinvigorate the shop. With the support we have received locally it has been a great success. This is just another string to our bow. We are delighted that it’s here and onwards and upwards for Cappamore,” said Brian, whose new post office clerk is Eileen Daly. Coincidentally, her mother, Sheila Slattery, and aunt, Joan Cosgrave, worked in the post office years ago. 

Cllr Noel Gleeson said everybody is “thrilled”.

“Hopefully it will go from strength to strength and give a good service to the people. There are enough of things closing in rural Ireland so it is great to have these services in our locality. We have an ageing population and a lot of old people can’t travel long distances for their pension,” said Cllr Gleeson.

Fianna Fail local election candidate Martin Ryan said it is brilliant to keep it in the area.

“For the size of the village and for businesses it is very important to have that accessibility to the post office,” said Martin, of Martin Ryan & Sons Transport. He says they use the post office daily. “There is massive support for Jimmy in his retirement and for Brian taking it on. I have no doubt Eileen will make a big contribution. Everyone is relieved and delighted to see it continue on in the village,” said Martin.