Banking and post office exhibition in Cloughjordan
Preparations are nearing completion for the launch of a new exhibition, opening on March 22nd, in the Thomas MacDonagh Museum, Cloughjordan.
The story of post office and banking services in the local area, echoing the progression nationally, reveals a social history of the past 200 years. The mobile phone technology of today has replaced the callout bell for the messenger who saddled up his horse and cart, then dressed in the official postman’s uniform and reported to the post office where he was given the message for urgent dispatch. Our efforts to communicate with family and friends, conduct business and commerce, and reach out to pioneering emigrants is shown through a display of telegrams, letters, postcards and stamps from the 1800s (including many First Day of Issue commemorative stamps).
The people of Cloughjordan fondly remember the phone exchange, when phone numbers were in single digits, and staff assisted in ‘putting callers through’. There is a special section in the exhibition of related items.
At this time, when we may be witnessing the demise of the local post office, this exhibition recalls the extent of the services that have been available to the public. While our story begins under His Majesty’s Service, it progresses to an expression of pride in a new nation through Celtic images and use of the Irish language on official stationary.
The presence of the Great Southern and Western Railway station in Cloughjordan assisted in the development of postal services in North Tipperary. It enabled parcel post, the newspapers and orders from trading companies to arrive daily to the town – a service now replaced by on-line orders.
Mr Samuel Baker, postmaster in Cloughjordan at the turn of the nineteenth century, ran a store along with the post office business. Besides the day-to-day goods required in the town and surrounding farming area, he offered a booking service for shipping lines: White Star Line, Cunard Steam Ship Company and the Allen Line Royal Mail Boat. He meticulously maintained records of the business in the post office. On Thursday, February 7th, 1907, Pig Market Day, he recorded each transaction at the Post Office counter from 6am to 8pm, covering 288 entries; for example: “Are there any Chronicles in?”; “Telegram delivered – messenger returns with bicycle chain broken”; “Would you have the change of a pound, if you please Mr”; “Bedad, sure I’m twenty minutes fast (looking at the clock)!”
The presence of a bank in Cloughjordan features in documentation under The Provincial Bank, The Munster Bank, The Munster and Leinster Bank and Allied Irish Banks. As people began to acquire some money, it was carefully saved in various forms and currency was valued, even to the child’s cherished gift of ‘a half crown’. Official documents were marked with a stamp in sealing wax or a dated stamp. Cheques appear as handwritten documents and receipts on billheads tell a tale of enterprise in the local area. Sadly, the former bank building is now vacant.
The Thomas MacDonagh Museum is indebted to the many people who kindly made available material for this exhibition. Peter Baker has made available items from the extensive Baker Collection and the present postmaster, Brian Sheppard, has contributed also. Thanks also to Ger Heffernan and Rose Kearney, members of the Cloughjordan Heritage Group, and to Michael Molampy, of the former post office at Coolbawn, for providing interesting heritage items for display.
This exhibition is made possible by the support of Tipperary Co Council. Through recent funding awarded to the museum it has been possible to purchase further display cabinets, facilitating this exhibition, and also to extend storage facilities for the museum collection.
All are welcome to attend the launch of the exhibition, 'Cloughjordan Post Office and Banking Service', on Friday, March 22nd, at 7.30pm. There will be an opportunity to share memories during the evening. Museum will be open from 4pm. The exhibition will remain on display through the coming months.