My 40 years as a postmaster in Cork

It doesn’t seem all that long ago when Cork postmaster Denis O’Flynn remembers his mother selling the first stamp at the post office in 1982.

“I was about 21 years old, and it was a big thing for the family. It was a new enterprise,” recalls Denis.

Now he is 40 years a postmaster and a shopkeeper himself in his native Ladysbridge in east Cork.

“And the post office and shop still remain a staple in the village,” says Denis, who is married to Margaret. The couple have three children, Ciara, Donnacha, and Éadaoin.

People enjoy going to O’Flynn’s.

“It has always been a social hub, a meeting place and a great source of good news!” says Denis.

Like what?

“Like the arrival of a new baby which is always good news,” says Denis.

Good news travels fast.

“Or a Lotto win!” says Denis.

The conversation flows at his post office.

“When Father O’Neill’s play a match, and indeed win it, the next morning’s conversation will be all about the match between the staff and the customers,” says Denis.

The local post office provides social interaction for people as well as essential services. With automation we can do everything that the GPO in Cork can do.

“There is a promising future ahead for rural post offices serving local communities.”

As a child, Denis, the fourth generation of O’Flynn’s shop, honed many of his expert skills behind the counter.

“We had a knack of sneaking the liquorice without our father noticing! It used to come in a long box arranged in loops,” recalls Denis. “My sisters and I could take out the loop in the middle and put the circle back together again. We were experts! Nobody ever knew.”

When the phone arrived at the post office, other conversations could be had.

“The number was 122. Castlemartyr was 111,” says Denis.

Was it s hand-operated phone? The type we all thought could broadcast each conversation to the operator?

“It was,” says Denis. “If anyone in the locality was sick, the first point of contact was here to keep everyone informed. In later years I was the telegram boy, delivering the telegrams within the hour.”

There were perks with that job.

“I liked that because I always got a tip!” says Denis.

It was a win-win situation.

“You got paid twice, up and down!” says Denis.

“Typically, a telegram would be sent in the event of a death, birth, or marriage, Often, people who had no phone and who had hospital appointments would be alerted by telegram.”

The service was utilised by a lot of people. “Politicians used telegrams to contact their constituents about dates of meetings and when they would be in the area. Telegrams were always used as an essential line of communication.”

Denis always had sweets too.

I was popular at school because I always had them in my pocket!”

He was well schooled in all aspects of the shop and post office when he took it over in 1984, after his parents passed away.

“I was appointed postmaster in October that year,” says Denis.

He was on familiar territory.

I grew up in the post office and the shop. I remember selling petrol for 37p a gallon.

Back in the day, Thursdays and Fridays were the busiest in the post office. “Retirement pension was paid out on Thursdays and the social benefits on a Friday,” explains Denis, whose sisters helped out over the years. Children’s allowance day, Tuesdays, was also a very busy day.”

Donnacha O’Flynn will be the fifth generation to take over O’Flynn’s when the time is right.

Does Denis have any advice for dealing with awkward customers?

“Always smile! That always helped!”

“Occasionally, a customer might be awaiting post, and it hadn’t yet arrived when expected. It was assumed that it was my fault and that I was the man to go to!”

There were other assumptions made.

“Timmy Ryan, a pensioner, used to say, ‘Isn’t Denis great? I came out with more than I went in with!’”

Denis knew his customers well.

We kept Tayto boxes out the back for people to use for posting items abroad. I knew the customers well and nearly always knew what they wanted before they even asked!

Post was a big deal.

“The post was heavy,” says Denis. “We’d get a bag every day. The postman at the time would come from Midleton, start in Clonmult, go on to Dungourney, to Mogeely, then Ladysbridge, Castlemartyr, and then to Little Island. These days the post goes directly to Portlaoise and is distributed from there.”

The local postman was obliging. He had an early start.

“If someone came in for a stamp at 5.30am, Paddy would wait for the letter so he could deliver it. Customer service was big in the old days, which still continues to this day.”

Denis moved to a new premises on the main street when he joined Mace in 2006.

Nothing changed very much.

“I love meeting people,” says Denis. “I am a people person.”

He was always trustworthy.

“Being the postmaster, people would know you’d always pass on the news. There was no guilt. There was always a feeling of trust.”

The news was spot on.

“If Mary had a child, the news would be passed on to a neighbour and you’d be told the weight of the child!” says Denis.

“If someone died, you’d pass on the information regarding the funeral arrangements. 

News was always passed on by word of mouth.

What is the biggest change that Denis has noticed over 40 years?

“The arrival of automation is the biggest change,” he says. “When automation arrived, there were a lot more services on offer.

“Bill pay, savings, banking, and applications for a landline were all part of the service.

“A lot of form-filling ensued, and we were always glad to help people fill out forms for various benefits they were entitled to. I’d fill out the relevant form for the customer and they would sign it,” says Denis.

“It was all a matter of trust.”

Denis trusts the services of the rural post office will always be in demand.

“An Post has an identity that stands for something. It stands for something other than buying a stamp. Everyone behind the counter is trusted and everyone who comes in is treated the same.”

The same old-age tradition of sending Christmas cards still carries on too.

“People love the book of Christmas stamps when they get 21 stamps for the price of 20, which is a nice touch at Christmas,” says Denis.

It seems to be an amazing incentive to post Christmas cards to your family and friends. Christmas and Valentine’s Day are the most popular dates for post.

The role of the post office is vital.

“The post office will last a long time,” says Denis. “As long as cash is in circulation, the post office will stay put.”

Denis, destined to take over he family business spanning five generations, always knew he would stay put.

“It was always a natural progression,” says Denis, who before taking over the family business travelled Munster as a salesman.

“I loved being out on the road, but equally I enjoy being a postmaster and a shopkeeper here in Ladysbridge.”

What other career might he have considered if the family business wasn’t an option?

“Maybe becoming an electrician,” says Denis. “I was always interested in the area of electricity and how it works.”

Forty years on, he is well plugged into the family business.

“I really enjoy my role as postmaster,” says Denis.

“The post office is a valuable asset to the community. It will always be a popular venue.”

Long may it last!