BY KATE HEANEY
THE business community in Gweedore will meet tonight in reaction to news that Allied Irish Bank (AIB) are to close its Gweedore branch and seven other branches in Donegal over the next 12 months.
The announcement has been described as “having a devastating effect” on rural life and taking “no account of the needs of communities”.
That was the reaction of Mr Kenneth Bradley, Manager of IRD Milford which is struggling to maintain the social and economic fabric of the Fanad Peninsula area. He described the news that the local branch was to close as “decimating” for the town and wider area. A total of 61 branches nation-wide will close over the next year.
The AIB branches which are to close are Milford, Lifford, Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh, Gweedore, Raphoe, Moville and Bundoran.
Business from the Lifford and Raphoe branches will relocate to Ballybofey. Business from the Dunfanaghy, Falcarragh and Gweedore branches will relocate to Dungloe.
Milford customers will be able to bank at the Letterkenny AIB branch, Moville customers nearest branch will be Carndonagh and Bundoran’s Ballyshannon.
A mobile AIB bank service is to be provided in the county to assist customers in the areas where branches close and also in Convoy, Castlefin, Glenties and Ardara.