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Tuesday was the “deadline day” for 26 post offices across the county but the good news is that many in the Killarney area have confirmed that they will be staying open.

An Post offered an exit package to the rural post offices in May of this year and a large number of locals had voiced fears that there would be closures. However, Farranfore, Headford, Beaufort and Kilcummin have all confirmed that they turned down the package and will remain open. It was not clear at time of going to print whether or not Glenflesk, Gneeveguilla or Currow had accepted An Post’s offer.

Speaking to Killarney Advertiser, Muiris Healy of Kilcummin Post Office said they saw no valid reason to close their doors.

“We’re busy,” he said. “We offer a great service to the community and it would be a massive inconvenience to our customers if we shut down. We were approached back in May but we were never going to close. This post office has been here since 1847 and it has been in my family for three generations.

“We have a shop next door and the two businesses depend on each other.”

Opponents to An Post’s measures say the effects of closing rural post offices will be devastating.