'Pleasure to work with' - Mayo man wished all the best following recent retirement
"I wish him a healthy and happy retirement"
COMMUNITY NOTES: BALLYHAUNIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (OCTOBER 7 EDITION)
A presentation to Michael Connolly from Cussolough, Brickens after his retirement on September 3 marked the end of a career which began when Michael joined the staff in Ballyhaunis Post Office (then the Post and Telegraphs, or P&T) in March 1981 as a telegram boy.
His former colleague Joe Byrne recalls: “His duty was to deliver telegrams around Ballyhaunis postal area on a bicycle. His other role was as a reserve postman which saw him deliver mail to the houses in Upper Main Street on foot.
“Michael was always thankful to the late Tom Hopkins who knew everyone in the town and could tell Michael which house the people he was looking for lived in. When Michael joined P&T there were six postmen working from Ballyhaunis: John Cleary (RIP), Dom Murphy (RIP), Paddy Fitzmaurice (RIP), Michael Lyons (RIP), Jimmy O’Malley (RIP) and Joe Byrne.
“There were postmen also in sub offices in Cloonfad, Kilkelly, Aghamore and Tooreen. Paddy Brennan was postmaster. There were four clerical staff and 20 staff in the telephone exchange upstairs between day and night telephonists.
“In 1983, Michael made history by being the last telegram boy in Ballyhaunis Post Office. This service was discontinued by P&T. The last telegram he delivered was to the Connell family of Redford, Ballyhaunis.
“He then was promoted as full-time postman to Castlerea district. He covered an area from Lisalway to Castleplunkett, Bushfield and finishing in Tarmon.
“In August 1984, Tom Folliard, the postman in Aghamore, retired and Michael got appointed to this post. This was the year [1984] P&T changed name to An Post.
“He spent 41 years on this post which brought him around Aghamore with some changes over the years. He had a great relationship with the people and plenty of tea houses.”
During Michael’s career he also saw the change of the movement of mail by rail to road.
Michael was an active union member of the Communications Workers’ Union branch in Ballyhaunis, having served on the committee and as chairperson over the years. He also over saw the biggest change in Ballyhaunis Post Office with the move on Friday, August 21, 2015 to a new An Post Delivery Services Unit (DSU) on Clare Road.
There was a retirement party for Michael on September 20th in the McWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris with his family, work colleagues and many friends from Aghamore. Pat Kelly, Ballyhaunis, DSU Manager, presented him with a Genesis Cú Chulainn bronze statue. David Madden presented Michael with his union scroll and badge. Margaret Fannon, secretary of the Aghamore Community Development Company, also made a presentation.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Michael,” noted Joe Byrne. “I wish him a healthy and happy retirement.”
