A RETIRED SCHOOLTEACHER has gone on hunger strike to try and save his local post office from closure.
74-year-old Galway man Michael Kilgannon started his protest on Saturday, protesting the imminent closure of the Cappataggle post office, which is near Ballinasloe.
Kilgannon, who is a former county councillor, says that he wants the post office given a year’s extension, which another nearby post office was given.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie. Kilgannon said that he was feeling “alright”.
“I’ve done 48 hours. I’m feeling alright, I’m taking liquid.”
Kilgannon says that the issue is part of a wider problem in rural Ireland.
“The post office is part of the lifeblood of any rural community. The church and the post office are the centres of the community.
“It’s particularly about Capataggle, but it’s about a much wider thing. The community is being dismembered. It’s either through disinterest, or something else.
“If 550 post offices are closed, it’ll be a disaster.
Is it worth it? Michael Davitt would have asked the same question. It was worth it for him. Is it worth it in this case? I think it is.
“Capataggle is a very unique community. We’re really in a crisis here.
“People in the Dublin area are completely unaware of what’s going on. The whole thing is off the wall and absolutely crazy.”
Kilgannon says he will continue the strike until there is a clear indication of what will happen.
Cappataggle is slated to close on Friday and services transferred to Woodlawn, Ballinasloe and Woodford. All three are between 13 and 20 kilometres away.
An Post told the Irish Times that it has consulted the community on the closure and had made their decision based on the consultation.
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