By Conor Sharkey
THE proposed replacement of Dunamanagh Post Office will end more than 100 years of history for a local family.
Since the late 1800s, the family of 73 year-old Sally Woods have been selling stamps, cashing cheques and tending to the postal needs of the rural community.
But that legacy could be lost if a proposal to downgrade Dunamanagh Post Office to an Outreach Service goes ahead.
It was announced last week that 42 Post Offices across Northern Ireland are facing the axe, while a further 54 could be reduced to Outreach Services. Just what these Outreach Services will entail has as yet not been confirmed, however it is likely the Dunamanagh branch will become part of a nearby shop.
If the proposed closure does eventually get the go-ahead, it will mean the end-of-an-era for the Woods family. For the past three decades, Dunamanagh Post Office has been run by Post Mistress Sally, however the family connections reach back many years.
Originally, the branch, on the Lisanarragh Road was run by Sally's great-aunt, a Mrs Fulton. After the branch was relocated just a few yards along the road in the early 1900s, Sally's grandmother took over the reins, before they were handed down to her mother Florrie Woods.
Sally spent much of her childhood running errands for the people of the village, and natural progression meant that the Woods legacy would be eventually carried on through her.
Around 30 years ago, she became head of the local branch and 15 years ago, Sally was joined by current Acting Post Mistress Avril Arbuckle.
Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle on Tuesday, Mrs Woods said she would almost certainly shed a tear if her beloved Post Office is closed.
"It will be very sad to see it leaving the family after all these years. I've spent many, many happy years here, from I was a very young child and I don't think many people in this area realise just how strong our connections to this branch are and how far back they go.
"It will be hard to see it close and it really will be the end-of-an-era, not just for my family but for everyone in Dunamanagh," Mrs Woods said.
Avril Arbuckle added that initial shock has led to anger in the village.
"Most people have got over the shock but many are angry and are vowing not to use the branch in the shop. A lot of people say they will travel in Ballymagorry or Artigarvan because they just won't be able to carry out all their business locally. It definitely has created alot of concerns among the people I've spoken to," she said.
Following last week's announcement, residents in the village have launched a campaign to have their branch retained. So far, hundreds of people have signed a petition which will be forwarded to the Post Office company prior to the closure of consultation on May 12.
