I've managed to get in a good few cycles this last few days.
Unfortunately my pictures today depict a sad but regular occurence. It's the recently closed local Post Office in Mountmellick.
Located just off the main square for who knows how long the Post Office has shut it doors and moved to a new location on the edge of town beside a modern Retail Centre.
Located just off the main square for who knows how long the Post Office has shut it doors and moved to a new location on the edge of town beside a modern Retail Centre.
Despite the obvious local objections, large Supermarkets in rural areas seem intent on closing the local Post Offices and moving them into their sphere of influence.
The small shop in the Town Square has recently undergone a facelift under new ownership and closing the nearby Post Office certainly will not help sustain rural towns and villages nor business's located in those same towns and villages.
The larger Supermarket Chains are doing a brisk enough business without necessitating the relocation of essential services towards their business's. If progress necessitates the "stripping bare" of small villages then there's not much future for local economies in rural Ireland.
As you can see from the photographs it certainly doesn't add to the local "ambience" at all.
Postscript: The little shop on the Square is now finally closed down. I think a shop selling phone covers and vaping accessories has now opened there instead.
Post Offices all across the Country are being relocated in Shops and Supermarkets supplied by Musgroves, a huge distributor.
Small town businesses haven't a hope up against this type of assimilation.
I guess rural Ireland can sing for it.....
Politicians seem to be of little use either on this issue.