Mayo postal workers face two-hour commute under An Post plan to close local sorting office
There has been widespread shock and concern across north Mayo following news that An Post plans to close the Barnatra postal sorting office and move all mail collection for the Erris region to its new depot in Ballina - a move that would see postal workers facing a two-hour round trip each day before starting their deliveries.
The change will affect 13 postal workers in the Erris region, and would see them travelling to the An Post facility on the Killala Road in Ballina to collect mail, before driving back to Erris to begin their delivery routes.
The route between Ballina and Barnatra, passing through Killala, Ballycastle, Belderrig and Glenamoy, is roughly a 77-mile round trip.
Mr Healy, the local postmaster, built the purpose-designed sorting facility in 2019. It services 13 postal workers who cover the Erris region.
Currently, the post is delivered each morning from Ballina in a single truck, it is then sorted in Barnatra and distributed around Erris.
Under An Post’s new proposal, however, each postal worker would make the journey to Ballina individually to sort and collect their mail before returning to Erris for deliveries, effectively adding at least two hours of additional driving to every working day.
The move is expected to take effect in the second quarter of 2026.
Local representatives have condemned the proposal as a logistical nightmare, questioning the sense in sending 13 vans from Erris to Ballina and back again every day.
They argue that the current system works perfectly well and that there is no reason to fix what isn’t broken.
Concerns have also been raised about the environmental impact of the change, as it would lead to increased diesel use and higher emissions.
Road safety has also been highlighted, with concerns that the extra travel would expose postal workers to unnecessary risks on an already busy route.
While the move reflects An Post’s commitment to centralising its operations, critics warn that such decisions leave small rural communities behind.
Erris, an area which is roughly the size of County Louth, relies on local postal services for connectivity and accessibility.
The Barnatra depot plays a crucial role in community life, allowing locals to collect urgent items such as passports or school exam papers.
If the facility closes, residents would face a two-hour round trip to Ballina instead.
Erris-based Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh described the plan as “completely unworkable, unsafe and socially damaging”, warning that it would have serious implications for workers, the environment and rural life.
She called for “common sense to prevail”, stating that the plan was “bad for workers, bad for communities, and bad for rural Ireland.”
“You simply cannot have 13 vans travelling in and out of Erris to Ballina and back again daily. It’s just not feasible, it’s bad for the environment, and it adds unnecessary risks for workers on already busy roads.”
“There’s a whole social dimension here that An Post seems to be ignoring. Rural postal services are not just about delivering letters and parcels; they are about keeping people connected and supported.”
Deputy Keira Keogh has also voiced concern about the plans, saying: “The environmental, financial, and logistical costs of that decision are significant. There’s also a real concern for the locality in Barnatra. If the sorting office closes, we must ask whether the post office there remains viable.”
Deputy Keogh and Cllr Gerry Coyle were contacted by Mr Healy on Friday evening. They have since been engaging with the local community and An Post to seek clarity and hear concerns.
Cllr Coyle said he was committed to ensuring that Erris isn’t left behind, adding: “The Erris postal service is a vital part of our community, and while change is inevitable, it must be managed fairly and with respect for the people who’ve kept the service running.”
Deputy Keogh confirmed that An Post had informed Fine Gael representatives that, as part of the proposed move, compensation of up to two years’ income would be offered to the postmaster, the union may seek transformation payments for postal workers who agree to relocate, and redundancy options may be made available to those who choose not to move.
An Post also stated that there will be an ongoing consultation phase, with no final decision made at this stage.
Deputy Keogh has also written to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, seeking clarification on An Post’s intentions and the potential impact on postal services in Erris.
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