2,500 sign petition against amalgamation of Mayo town's postal delivery unit

COUNCILLOR Alma Gallagher has reaffirmed her determination to prevent the proposed amalgamation of the Ballyhaunis Delivery Service Unit with Castlerea, a move currently under consideration by An Post and expected to be decided during the first quarter of this year.

Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce has gathered over 2,500 signatures opposing the proposed amalgamation.

And Councillor Gallagher has stressed that the proposal is far from 'signed, sealed and delivered'.

She said: “I am engaging daily with Senator Mark Duffy who is supporting me in fighting to keep the DSU in Ballyhaunis. I understand that intensive pressure is being applied and we hope it will lead to a positive outcome. If not, we will have to ramp up our campaign.”

Councillor Gallagher is issuing a call to action to the people of Ballyhaunis. Members of the public who wish to support the campaign can sign the petition at the Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce offices in the Enterprise Centre, Ballyhaunis.

“The petition is being coordinated by Anne Cunnane, CEO, and we ask that those who have not signed the petition do so before Friday, January 30,” she said.

In December, Patrick O’Donovan, the minister responsible for communications and the postal service, met with Senator Duffy and Councillor Gallagher at Leinster House to discuss An Post’s operations in Mayo, specifically the proposal to merge the Ballyhaunis and Castlerea Delivery Service Units. While the minister noted that operational decisions rest with An Post, he formally requested further information on the rationale behind the proposed relocations.

The DSU has operated successfully from the enterprise units on Clare Street since its relocation from Bridge Street in 2015. The facility - owned by Ballyhaunis Chamber of Commerce - was upgraded at that time following an investment of over €360,000 by An Post to retrofit and modernise the premises.

Today, the unit processes more than 2,000 parcels daily and serves a wide range of local businesses and organisations, including Dawn Meats, Major Steel, Agri Spread, local GP practices, and numerous retailers. Many of these enterprises rely on the unit for daily dispatch and secure storage of specialised items, said Councillor Gallagher.

The unit employs 13 postal staff and operates 10 delivery vans, covering a wide geographic area from Cloonfad to Kilkelly and along the Swinford border.

Councillor Gallagher said reports of a potential relocation have caused deep concern among workers and the wider community.

“There is a real sense of disbelief and disappointment among staff. Many have dedicated decades of service to Ballyhaunis. Postal workers don’t just deliver mail - they deliver care and connection.

“For many elderly residents, the postperson may be the only human contact they have each day. This is about people, not just parcels.”

Councillor Gallagher also paid tribute to the exceptional role postal workers played during the Covid-19 pandemic, when they were asked to deliver groceries, newspapers, and essential supplies to vulnerable residents.

“They stepped up without hesitation, even at the busiest and most difficult of times. That commitment should not be forgotten.”

While An Post has cited cost-saving measures as a reason for considering the amalgamation, Councillor Gallagher described the proposal as counterproductive.

“This plan simply doesn’t add up. New delivery routes would be required, additional vans purchased, and there is a real risk of job losses - particularly among temporary staff. That is not cost-saving.”

From a business perspective, she said the proposal is 'completely unworkable'. “Expecting businesses to travel a 40-kilometre round trip to Castlerea to post parcels is unreasonable. At a time when Fastway Couriers has gone into receivership, An Post should be strengthening its local footprint, not retreating from it.”

She also highlighted that An Post reported strong financial performance, recording a profit in 2024 with revenues exceeding €1 billion for the first time – questioning the necessity of withdrawing a proven and profitable local service.

Furthermore, she noted that the proposed removal of the Ballyhaunis delivery base conflicts with national rural development policy commitments, which emphasise protecting essential services and sustaining vibrant rural towns.

Councillor Gallagher and Senator Duffy will continue to liaise with relevant departments and stakeholders in an effort to reverse the proposal, adding: “I am calling on An Post to listen to local voices and to keep this essential service where it belongs - in Ballyhaunis.”