Cork postmaster: ‘We need to keep the doors of our rural post offices open’

RUNNING the Post Office is a family tradition for Noel Harrington, whose late father, Donal, became Castletownbere postmaster in the late ’60s.

Noel took over the role in 1993. In between he was a member of Cork County Council from 1999 to 2011, serving a term as county mayor, and was elected as a Fine Gael TD in the Cork South West Constituency from 2011 to 2016.

Castletownbere’s office is a bit different from the office in Leinster House.

“I was lucky to be elected,” says Noel. “It was a privilege.

“I came back to the job that I do best.”

Noel is in a happy place.

“When the sun shines, there is no place like Castletownbere,” says Noel, who is a father of three. 

There is nowhere better.

Castletownbere Post Office was always a family affair.

“When dad died in 1981, my mother took over the telephone exchange which I found fascinating as a young lad,” says Noel.

“It was part of growing up and the post office was always a communications hub. I took over as post master in 1993.”

Noel, having grown up in the post office, was familiar with the nature of the business.

“I often try and explain the workings of the telephone exchange to young people, who find the concept hard to grasp when their mobile phones are in their pockets!

“Our telephone exchange had four or five lines out, and people would wait to be connected to the call.”

Communication was always a big part of Noel’s life.

“In the late ’70s, I used to deliver telegrams, which was my summer job. The telegrams were usually for wedding couples.”

Time moved on.

“Things have progressed a lot now with computerisation,” says Noel.

Back then the old system was paper based, with ledgers and accounts books in constant use.

Castletownbere was always a great base to explore Beara, and it’s easy to visit some of the most beautiful sites from the little town.

“It is a remote rural area,” says Noel. “We get a lot of tourists, fishermen, farmers and people working in a variety of industries.

“I love the people; we have our own characters who have great humour. Typically, the same people come into the post office on the same day at the same time. They meet and have the chat; it is an important part of their day.”

Noel’s customers often surprise him.

“There are people coming into the post office in their mid-90s who are hale and hearty,” says Noel. “Some of them drive into the village to do their business, would you believe? We miss others who can’t drive in themselves anymore, they were special customers - and we always enquire about their well-being.”

Noel believes in catering for his customers, offering them essential services on their doorstep in one of the most remote peninsulas in Ireland.

He moved to a larger premises last December to offer even better services for his customers.

“We moved to a larger retail space, six or seven doors up the street. The new premises has a more contemporary design that is more spacious with better sorting facilities for the postal workers. 

The previous post office was a bit cramped for postal staff to sort the mail, especially during the pandemic when social distancing was required.

It was a good move.

“The new premises provides a bigger mail sorting office and a more up-to-date retail space for customers,” says Noel.

“In busy periods, the queues outside would be long, and it wasn’t fair on people when the weather was bad.”

The new location, Bank Place, Cametringane, Castletownbere, has many advantages.

“The new location helps support other businesses in the west end of Castletownbere,” says Noel. “There is public parking directly opposite the new post office and the location brings another dimension to this end of town.”

Even though Noel realises that online banking is easier for a lot of customers, he encourages people to come into the post office to do their transactions.

“We depend on people, and the more people that come into rural post offices to do their transactions, the more they are supporting their post offices and keeping them open.”

Noel says meeting and chatting to people is the best part of the job.

“The post office is a place where people can keep in touch with each other,” he says.

Being face-to-face, interacting with people on a daily basis is great.

“The post office caters for a big range of services; financial, supplying foreign currency, mobile phone top-ups, gift vouchers, and we are agents for social protection benefits. It is a one-stop shop. The social side is equally important,” says Noel.

“Conversation is always going on here; whether it be offering advice, swapping anecdotes, inquiring about neighbours, or discussing the news in the parish; the chat is always going on six days a week.”

The post office has many roles.

“I often think we’re like an informal tourist office,” says Noel. “Or a mini-citizens advice bureau!”

Noel is a people person.

“We cater for everyone, all ages. The post office is an open door. All are welcome.”

He caters for people in a spot of bother too

“Recently, a man came into the post-office in distress,” says Noel. “He was looking for directions and he had no mobile phone to make contact with the person he was looking for. I assisted him by letting him use my own mobile phone so he could get in touch with a family member. He was very relieved. 

It’s all part of the job!

Noel says it is important for every community to support their post office.

“We need to keep the doors of rural post offices open,” says Noel.

“Not just ourselves; but all post offices in Beara, and around the country. I would encourage people to come in and use their local post office. It is the customers that keep the doors open.”