News
Mary O’Shea bids fond farewell to An Post After 31 Years
MARIE MEETS
After more than three decades of dedicated service, Mary O’Shea has hung up her counter keys at Killarney Post Office, retiring last Friday, a decision that surprised even herself
. “I’m off one Monday every month,” she laughed, “so on Monday morning I decided I needed to wake up without an alarm clock on Tuesday to see if it had really sunk in!”
Although the offer of retirement came suddenly, Mary said the timing “just felt right.” Ever thoughtful of her colleagues, she first wondered how her leaving might affect the office. “But then I came around to thinking about my own family life,” she added. “I knew I’d miss it, but I also knew I was ready.”
A native of Kenmare, Mary first stepped behind a post office counter as a schoolgirl, working summers in the town’s post office before taking up maternity-leave cover in the sub-office run by John and Eileen O’Sullivan.
She married her husband Connie in 1992, and the couple set up home in Pinewood. The daily 45-minute drive to Kenmare soon made a post in Killarney an attractive option. In 1994, Mary made the move and never looked back.
Over the years she rose through the ranks, first as Acting Branch Manager alongside Seanie McCarthy (RIP) under Pat O’Donoghue, and later as Deputy Manager under Liam Hartnett and Sean Byrne.
“No Calculators and Christmas Turkeys”
Mary has seen extraordinary changes across her 31 years with An Post. “When I began, there were no calculators,” she recalled. “Christmas parcels weren’t online shopping deliveries, they were turkeys, bracks and cakes sent abroad,”
The Killarney office even had a full-time postcard stamp clerk, and rookies knew they weren’t fully initiated until they’d accidentally stamped themselves with the giant black date stamp. “It’s all done in Portlaoise now,” she said, “And I’m sure not even one percent of those postcards are sent anymore.”
She remembers the days of selling licences for bulls and black-and-white TVs, district court stamps, and doing all calculations in your head or with the old Ready Reckoner. Then came computers, and with them a new era of banking, bill payments and gift cards, though the timeless savings certificates and bonds remained a constant.
As Killarney Post Office moved from specialist counters to 'all-service counters'.”
Mary and her late colleague Mary Bailey travelled to Mallow for six weeks’ training, a memory she recalls with great fondness.
In 2000, her husband Connie joined the An Post family as a postman. “Once they got one O’Shea, they must have thought they may as well take the set,” she said.
Mary is deeply grateful for An Post’s flexibility over the years. “The term time meant I could raise our son Ian, family time I’ll never get back.”
Since the retirement of Maurice Switzer in 2016, Killarney Post Office became an all-female team and earned a playful nickname from Manager Pat O’Donoghue: “Paddy’s Angels.” Mary looks back on those years with huge affection.
The pandemic brought some of the toughest days of Mary’s career. “It was one of the most unprecedented and unwelcome changes,” she said. “We really missed our elderly customers collecting their pensions. The relief when restrictions lifted, to see them and talk to them again, was enormous.”
That interaction, she said, has always been one of the greatest joys of the job.
Mary expects retirement to begin with a few simple pleasures. “I’ll miss all the girls at the counter, but I’ll enjoy daytime walks in the park with Margaret O’Connor, who’s retired nearly three years now. And who knows — maybe Anne Clifford might join us on her days off.”
As for a grand plan? “There is no plan — and that’s the plan,” she smiled. She looks forward to family time, crafting, and especially this Christmas, when her son Ian and his girlfriend Dayna return after two years travelling. In a lovely twist, Ian will be returning to take up his role with An Post just as Mary steps away. “We’re keeping the tradition going,” she joked. “One O’Shea clocks in as the other clocks out!”
A fond farewell
Warm tributes have poured in from staff, customers and friends — a testament to how deeply Mary has been woven into daily life at Killarney Post Office. Though she won’t say it herself, her presence will be missed far beyond the counter.
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers join national campaign to cut PRSI and safeguard local jobs
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the Government to reduce employers’ PRSI contributions in Budget 2027 to protect local employment.
Organised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the campaign saw shop owners and employees stand together to highlight the severe financial pressures facing town centre businesses.
The industry body is urging the Government to introduce an employer PRSI band of 8% on the first €36,000 of every wage, zero employer PRSI for workers under 25, and a review of the methodology used to calculate the living wage.
The push comes amid growing concern over rising operational expenses, with new figures showing a loss of 10,800 retail jobs nationally over the past year and a 35% surge in retail insolvencies in the first half of 2026 alone.
Jean McCabe, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Excellence Ireland, warned that mounting wage costs are placing unprecedented strain on independent traders across Kerry.
“The retail industry has been under the most intense pressure from a range of cost pressures in recent times – and wage costs are the primary issue,” Ms McCabe said. “The industry is now seeing a rapid increase in insolvencies because of these pressures, so Government must now act unless it wants to see more businesses fail. Retailers standing together today shows just how widely this is being felt, in towns right across the country.”
Ms McCabe added that incoming PRSI rate increases scheduled for October 1 will deliver another major blow to small and medium enterprises unless urgent intervention is taken in the upcoming budget.
“We’re asking every TD, in every constituency, to back this ask,” Ms McCabe added. “And we’re asking Tánaiste Simon Harris, as Minister for Finance, to introduce it directly in Budget 2027. It’s costed, it’s modest, and it keeps jobs in local communities.”
Retailers join national campaign to cut PRSI and safeguard local jobs
Retailers and shop staff across Killarney joined forces this week as part of the nationwide ‘#CutPRSIKeepJobs’ campaign, calling on the...
European mixology elite heading to Pig’s Lane
Fresh off being named Ireland’s Bar of the Year 2026, Pig’s Lane is set to host world-renowned Athens cocktail destination...
WEEK 14: Felicity’s Summer in Killarney
WEEK 14Felicity’s Summer in Killarney Previously: Here on Dundag it was far easier to relax than anywhere else. They had...
Frustration mounts over morning gridlock at Coolcorcoran
Frustration mounts over morning gridlock at Coolcorcoran Mounting traffic gridlock at the Coolcorcoran junction onto the N22 Killarney Bypass is...
Ailbhe Keogan scoops top television writing award
Acclaimed Kerry screenwriter Ailbhe Keogan has won the Best TV Drama Script award at the 19th Writers’ Guild of Ireland...
Fossa Swimmers make a splash at County Finals
The Fossa Swim team pictured at the Tralee Sports Complex following their successful outing at the County Finals of the...
On the Ball Part 2 of the Mikey Daly Interview
Éamonn Fitzgerald EF: Killarney Celtic are invited to participate in an Irish competition. That has big financial implications for travel,...
LUKE MANGAN recently caught up with Kerry FC’s manager, Colin Healy.
He spoke to him about his careers as a player and manager. Here’s how it went: When you began your...
Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic
Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1) Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell Saturday 7.30pm Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre...
Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan
After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork...
