Liam McConnellogue, who retired this week
YESTERDAY evening Letterkenny post office clerk Liam McConnellogue clocked out, ending a 41-year career serving the community.
Liam’s co-workers organised a retirement party, complete with cake, in the staff canteen in recognition of his service and also to celebrate his sixtieth birthday.
“I finish up today on my birthday but I’ll come in tomorrow morning (Friday) because I would like to see the pensioners,” he said.
“I will always treasure the warm friendly welcome I received from the people of Letterkenny,” he added.
Liam’s warm friendly demeanour has made him a favourite with customers down through the years.
A single man, the Convoy native started his employment with An Post in 1975 when he attended a training school in Waterford.
“It was different back then. We had to learn all about the mail,” he said.
After finishing in Waterford, Liam spent a few weeks in Carrick on Shannon before moving to Castlebar. Mayo was to be home for the next four years until he came to Letterkenny in 1980.
“There’s been a lot of changes to our work practices over the years as well as numerous changes in personnel. Computerisation has also led to massive changes, especially in counter work, but it’s been a lot more good than bad,” he said.
While Liam has spent the past fifteen years working on the counter, there was a spell spent prior to that on back room duties.
“I enjoy the counter. I enjoy meeting people – that’s the best part of the job. At this stage I nearly know which customer will be in first on any given morning. We chat politics and football and we often replay all the big games although we never manage to change the result,” he laughed.
Not alone has Liam given 41 years to An Post, he has given as many years to the local St Mary’s GAA Club in Convoy and is also actively involved with a number of local voluntary groups.
“I’m single. I live alone but my twin sisters Bernadette and Margaret and their families aren’t too far away. I don’t know what the future holds yet. I’ll miss all my colleagues and the many, many customers I’ve got to know down through the years but the time is right to move on,” he said.
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