My Time on the Old Post Bike

John O’Shaughnessy took his holidays at Galway Races in early August. He was known as John Shaugh. His run started at Corribdale and then Cregg, Ardbarna, Lemonfield and then Billamore and the Glebe, Rushvela and Oldchapel and then onto Portacarron where the late Martin Clancy Snr would have the kettle boiled and we’d have the tea and listen to the ten o’ clock news.

I had one very close shave in Portacarron, as my bike got punctured and the late Bill Joyce said he’d fix it but it would take time. He lent me his brand new bike. As I was coming out of the middle road the late Michael Previte was coming up from the shore area in his low-slung car and I didn’t see him as the wall was a bit high. When I got out on the main road and saw him I went to pull the brakes but they jammed and I knew I was for it. So I had a bit of a brainwave and took a dive onto the bonnet of Michael’s car. Poor Michael got an awful shock, and Bill’s bike crashed into the wall, but it all ended well. And then I went on to Gorthrevagh and on to Corribview and on to Coran Ban and then on to Knockilaree and Ard and maybe an oul cuppa with Theresa Mogan and then on to Birchall and back on to Porridgetown and then to Oakfield Srue and Annagh where the Mannion family live, and back on to Bealnalappa and on to Moyvoon and then Magheramore and high tea and a good old chat with Bridgit O’Toole Darcy and that was the end of Shaugh’s run.

A lift in the old pickup

John Fahy was first to take his holidays in May for the dap and the bog. John’s run started with the pier road and up Main Street and Bridge Street and on to Carramanagh and Waterfield and Tonwee and the Fairy Bridge, then onto Clareville and Claremount and Derrylaura and Tullach an Cat and then on to Glengowla and there was always a stiff headwind on that road. An oul cuppa and a chat with Eileen Clancy and maybe Mary Lydon and then the late Jackie Geoghan who would always bring the mail for John Geoghan from Lettercraff. And then on to Cruckan and then on to Rusheeny and the late Tom Joe Coneely always brought the mail for Rusheeny if he met me and I might have a cup of tea with Bridgit Naughton. And then on to Cloosh and then on to Bunnagippaun, where the late Paddy Cronnelly often would give me a lift in the old pickup, and if I ran into the late Paddy Delap he would tell me to leave the mail in town. And that was the end of John Fahys’s run.

I often got a few nips from dogs and had a few close shaves and ran into some bad weather and had to hire Tommy Geoghegan and the late Sean Conneely at times.

Forgot to check the brakes.

The late Paddy Walsh from Rosscahill was the last to take his holidays. He took a week in September and then two weeks in October to dig the spuds. Paddy’s run started on the square and on to the Hill of Doon and also Camp street, Eighterard, and Tullavrick and on to Baurisheen and then on to Derrymoyle, Drimnakill and on to Gorthrishagh and then Cappagarrif where Margaret Burke would always have a nice soft drink, and then on to Newvillage and an ‘oul cup and a a scone with Josie O’Connor. Then one day I got a puncture and I got a loan of a bike from the late Rita McGauley but forgot to check the brakes. I was coming down the hill from New village and heading for Glann, and had a letter for Barbara Edwards. I went to pull the brakes and had none, and I knew I was for it. And then I had a brainwave as I had a box of chickens on the carrier for Currarevagh and I grabbed the box and then fired it at the wall and jammed the bike into the box. And then I went up to Baurnagurtheeny and often had tae with Nelly McDonagh and then on to Ballygally and tea with Mrs O’Halloran and then on to Gorterwulla and a nice breakfast from Mary Molloy. And then on to King’s and a nice cup of tea at times from Annie King and maybe sometimes tea with Mary Clancy and on to Curraduff and then to Coosaun and sometimes tea from Peg Joyce, and then on to the Hill of Doon, where Gretta Butler’s banana sandwiches were a speciality and tea at Mike Canavan’s on the way home. And that was the end of Paddy Walsh’s run.

Theses are my memories from delivering the post in the 1970’s.