Pandemic makes every day a red letter day for postal service!
The volume of post going through Post Offices has jumped by up to 70 per cent in the pandemic as postmen and women take on a new supportive role for those cocooned at home.
Seona O’Fegan, who runs the post offices in Barna and Fr Griffin Road in the city, has extended opening hours to cope with the greater volume of post and the hike in demand for social welfare.
“It’s worse than Christmas – I could barely move in Fr Griffin Road with the amount of parcels,” exclaims Seona.
“It’s a 60 to 70 per cent increase for the time of year. I thought after Easter it would die down because people were sending Easter Eggs, but no. One of the famous booksellers in the town is keeping the business alive by sending out books, and other businesses are doing the same.”
Post is being delivered to a lot more houses than previously as people resort to the “old fashioned” way of connecting with relatives and friends, the postmistress remarks.
“People are using this opportunity to contact elderly aunts, old friends they may have lost contact with by popping in a postcard. The postmen are going to a lot more doors than they normally do and they’re able to touch base with people, see if they need anything, while on their rounds.”
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