End of an era as Ballylinan postmistress retires
Mary Brennan, who has retired as postmistress of Ballylinan Post Office, pictured with her husband Micheál at her retirement party in Fleming's Bar, Ballylinan on Saturday 2 November
MARY Brennan may have closed the door on her 31-year career as postmistress of Ballylinan Post Office on Saturday 2 November, but she leaves the thriving business in the capable hands of her long-time colleague Marianne Farrell to continue into the future.
Mary’s family history in Ballylinan dates back to the 1830s, when her great-grandparents Annie and William Fleming ran Fleming’s pub beside the post office.
The pub remained in the family’s ownership and was run by three of her aunts until recently, with Mary working there when she was growing up. On the death of her last aunt, Mary and her husband Micheál – who married in 1979 and went on to have three children – took over running it in the 1980s.
Her post office career began in the 1970s, when she also worked for AIB in Naas, Carlow and Athy. During this time she began helping her aunts in the post office that adjoined the pub and assisted them in moving to a computerised system before taking on the role of postmistress in 1993.
Mary, who lives in Wolfhill, said: “I’ve seen a lot of changes in my time in the post office. There’s been a lot of new houses built and a lot of new people living locally, who I’ve found to be great, decent people. It’s a small post office, but a very busy one.
“When the post office in Crettyard closed, a lot of people came here. We were the only post office between Carlow and Athy, and people used to come from as far as The Swan, Luggacurren, Ballyadams, Arles, Ballickmoyler, Crettyard and Castelcomer. While I might be retiring, the post office is remaining open and will be run by Marianne Farrell, my great friend of many years.” Asked what plans she had for her retirement, Mary joked: “Retirement? Have you ever known any woman to retire? No, I haven’t made any plans. I will be helping with my five grandchildren and one that is on the way, so that should keep me busy enough for a while.” Mary said that, because of her demanding work schedule, she never really had much time to join local groups, but her family has an interest in GAA and the local St Joseph’s GAA Club.
