Volume 3, Number 7 July, 2001
A periodic publication for the members of the Éire Philatelic Association, the Irish Airmail Society, the Irish Philatelic Circle and the Forschungs-und Arbeitsgemeinschaft Irland e.V. The newsletter will be e-mailed to all interested members.
Published and edited by Michael Connolly
More on the ISSP Phos Printings - Questa £3 Booklet
Brian Warren
brian.warren@ie.pwcglobal.com
I cannot put any earlier date than June 2001 for the 40p and 50p (the date they came available in the bureau). All three values are on normal ordinary paper (CCP1).
I cannot make my mind up yet re paper on the £3 Questa Booklet. I think its CCP3 paper when put under UV lamp but it looks white. The perf. of the stamps in the booklet are 11 x 13, i.e. different from ISSP.
Regarding the Dual Currency issues:
Perf as before.
Make-up not finalised but probably 10 x inland plus 2 tourist booklets (european rate and world wide rate). In
addition the £1 booklet will probably become a 2 euro booklet in due course in January 2002.
Brian Warren
BurtonportJohn Gilpin
john.gilpin@btinternet.com
As a small follow-up to Stan Challis' interesting Burtonport article in the April 2001 issue, I attach a JPEG image of an early view of Burtonport PO. Perhaps the 'armed vehicle' (?) is the mail cart mentioned in the article.
John Gilpin
Belfast FAI - Auction
Klaus Stange
StangeFAI@aol.com
The FAI auction No. 75 is on the net at FAI-Homepage. Die Harfe No. 75 is on its way to members. Some will already have received it.
Best wishes from a hot and sunny Germany
Klaus Stange
MILCOPEX 2001Robert Henak
Henak@compuserve.com
Greetings from Milwaukee!
I am writing on behalf of the Milwaukee Philatelic Society. As you may already know, Milcopex is Wisconsin's own national level stamp exposition. he show this year will be held September 14, 15 & 16, 2001 at State Fair
Park in West Allis, Wisconsin.
We are hosting the Éire Philatelic Association and I am told we have two Irish judges on the jury. We still have frames available and would love to have you join us.
As an APS World Series of Philately show, the MILCOPEX Grand Award winner is eligible for the annual "Champion of Champions" competition at Stampshow.
Milwaukee is centrally located, with a fine airport, and only about a 1½ hour drive north of Chicago. We also have many fine hotels and restaurants.
If you would like a prospectus and application, please let me know.
Robert Henak
Exhibit Chairman
henak@compuserve.com
414-351-1519
Brian Warren
brian.warren@ie.pwcglobal.com
Battle of Kinsale Issue - 10 July
The FDC sold at bureau counter had a pictorial KINSALE postmark but
presumably there is the usual BAC also available.
Brian Warren
An Post Press Release
Maurice Barrett
maurice.barrett@ireland.com
Battle of Kinsale Stamps 9th July 2001
The Battle of Kinsale in 1601, one of the pivotal events in Irish history, is commemorated in a new set of four stamps designed by Cork artist Finbarr O�Connor which go on sale tomorrow (10 July 2001) at all main post offices.
An Post Chairman, Stephen O�Connor, today (9 July 2001) launched the stamps at a function in Kinsale. The stamps form part of the official recognition of the historical significance of the battle at the town 400 years ago.
Red Hugh O�Neill, the Earl of Tyrconnell and his ally from Tyrone, Red Hugh O�Donnell marched nearly 300 miles from the North to Kinsale to join with a Spanish invasion force which took over the town in September.
Lord Mountjoy, the Elizabethan military leader in Ireland, besieged the Spaniards and on Christmas Eve intercepted and scattered the exhausted Irish, and inflicted a defeat which had enormous and continuing repercussions on Irish history.
The defeat ended Gaelic Ireland and changed forever the customs, language and land ownership system. It led to the Flight of the Earls and in 1607, the Plantation of Ulster. It also established English control in Ireland.
Mr. O�Connor congratulated the committee organising Kinsale�s commemorative events and said that An Post was delighted to be involved in the celebrations marking a most historic event.
�The Battle of Kinsale led to dramatic change in the course of Irish history and it is fitting that we should have a stamp issue to make a battle which in its implications was arguably the most pivotal in our history�, he said.
The Chairman of the Kinsale 2001 Commemoration Committee, Cllr Dermot Collins said they were extremely proud and greatly honoured by this magnificent gesture on the part of An Post to recognise in such an auspicious manner this important event in our history.
�We sincerely thank and congratulate An Post for their outstanding contribution to our commemoration programme�, Councillor Collins added.
The stamps feature the various soldiers who took part in the Nine Years War which the O�Neill and O�Donnell clans waged against the forces of Elizabeth I. An Irish Pikeman and an English Horseman are each featured on a 30p (38c) stamp while a Spanish Pikeman is shown on a 32p (41c) stamp. A medieval town of Kinsale is portrayed on a 45p (57c) stamp. A special first day cover, also designed by Finbarr O�Connor is also available.
NOTE: The FDC sold at bureau counter had a pictorial KINSALE postmark but presumably there is the usual BAC also available.
An Post Seeks Rate IncreaseMaurice Barrett
maurice.barrett@ireland.com
"An Post seeks 30% rise in cost of stamps to meet increasing losses by Gerald Flynn, Industrial Correspondent, �Irish Independent�, 12 July 2001.
An Post is seeking increases of over 30% in postage stamp costs as its own costs are rising faster than sales.
The state company, which last year suffered a £3m drop in operating profits, is heading towards mounting deficits and is awaiting proposals for a subvention to meet the burden of loss-making rural post offices. Last year the post office division went into losses and these are expected to average about IR£20m a year over the next three years.
An Post chairman, Stephen O'Connor, warned that costs rising faster than revenues could not be sustained as they put the company's future at serious risk.
A special meeting was held with a Department of Public Enterprise representative yesterday to stress the urgent need for lower costs and increased profits.
Chief executive John Hynes declined to specify how much of an increase in postal charges is being sought and said the company could not comment on its submission to postal and telecoms regulator Etain Doyle.
It is understood, however, that An Post wants basic postage costs to be increased by at least 30% to compensate for the impact of inflation since the last price hike eleven years ago. Mr. Hynes said Ireland was now the third cheapest EU state for postal charges.
An inter-departmental review of proposals for a subvention will be published later this month. It follows a study last year by former ICTU president, Phil Flynn, which suggested state subsidies for the 1,800 sub-post offices.
Staff costs are an increasing burden in post offices, while it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit staff. There are over one hundred vacancies in sub-post offices throughout the state.
The company announced it is investing IR£100m in automating its mail-sorting centres and hopes to increase the percentage of post handled automatically from 25% to over 80%.
The Government has agreed to give a 5% stake in the company to its 9,500 staff, and the company is to buy a further 10% to distribute to staff in the form of a profit-share scheme, worth about IR£3,250 for each employee."
Regards,
MAURICE BARRETT
An Post Announcement of 2000 ResultsMaurice Barrett
maurice.barrett@ireland.com
Windfall Profits Mask Inadequate Returns at An Post (published 11 July 2001)
The An Post Group, which runs the national mail and post office services, has reported an overall profit of IR£35 million in its annual report for 2000 but warns that returns from its core activities are increasingly inadequate.
While group turnover increased by IR£27 million (6.4 per cent) to IR£451 million overall, costs went up by IR£29.8 million (7.2 per cent) to IR£443 million and the Post Offices division moved into losses for the first time in many years. Overall operating profits fell IR£2.8 million to IR£7.7 million.
The major contribution to the overall profit came from IR£40.5 million realised by An Post from the sale of its shareholding in ESAT Telecom Group plc to British Telecommunications (BT).
Elsewhere all parts of the Group shared in the national economic buoyancy with Letter Post (mails) division showing a volume growth of nine per cent with total revenues up IR£17.4 million to IR£288 million.
Revenues at the Post Offices division grew by only 2.6 per cent - a reflection of pressure from major customers for lower prices. SDS, the group's parcel distribution and courier business grew its revenues by 9.7 per cent due mainly to strong growth in national traffic and on European routes.
The modest operating performance in 2000 reflected the fact that costs are outstripping revenues, post offices division has moved into serious losses and the company has not had a price increase in its biggest business (LetterPost) since 1991.
And Chairman, Stephen O�Connor, warns a price increase can no longer be avoided. He said that approval for an increase in international postage rates had already been sought from the Postal Regulator.
�The price of posting a standard letter within Ireland is the same today as it was in 1990 while the Consumer Price Index had risen by 29 per cent�, he said.
An Post says that during 2000 it continued its strategic investment programme. IR£76 million will have been spent on a national automation programme by the end of 2002. It also acquired JMC Van Trans and Wheels Couriers, two companies specialising in same day delivery of documents and parcels.
Negotiations had been concluded with its trade unions on a Transformation Through Partnership Agreement which provides for business reorganisation and the introduction of new working methods designed to save the company IR£27 million a year by 2003.
Mr. O�Connor said "The imbalance between the increases in turnover and costs was a matter for concern even allowing for static or declining sales prices in Letter Post and Post Offices. Cost increases which outstrip the growth in revenue cannot be sustained and are seriously detrimental to the future of An Post�.
Group Chief Executive, Mr. John Hynes, said that pay was the single most important internal issue for the Group. Pay accounted for 70 per cent of total costs and the PPF agreement will provide cumulative increases of 18 per cent and would add IR£64 million to payroll costs.
Referring to losses in the Post Offices division, Mr. Hynes welcomed the Flynn Review of the sub post office network. �An Post is committed to the sustainable development of the network�, he said.
He added �However, in the absence of a subvention which was requested by the board in July 2000, annual losses in the post offices division will escalate from IR£13 million in 2001 to IR£28 million in 2004 - losses of this scale are clearly unsustaiinable�.
Regards,
MAURICE BARRETT
Registration Labels - The Smaller Towns - Republic of IrelandStan Challis
challis@guernsey.net
This is something I promised you back at the start of the year.
Best wishes
Stan Challis
Guernsey
(where
known) Office Date office
opened Dates reported /
seen Comment ATHLONE Baylough 1953 1989 label 'Baylough Athlone' in 1989 Connaught Str 1908 NOT SEEN closed c1923; 3 Mardyke Str 1937 1980-89 BALLINA Ardnaree 1947 1991-93 label 'Ard na Riogh' 1991-93 BALLINASLOE Dunlo Hill 1901 NOT SEEN closed c1916 BANDON Kilbrogan 1911 1986 closed c1993; label 'Kilbrogan' 1986 BLACKROCK 5 Booterstown 1774 1981 closed 1857-65. Under Blackrock from c1918. Closed 1985 3 Deans Grange 1925 1980-93 Glenomena 1901 NOT SEEN closed 1954 1 Monkstown 1843 1943-92 under Blackrock from c1903 8 Mount Merrion 1940 1975-87 Mount Merrion in 1949 4 Newtownpark 1949 1983-91 also seen 1992-93 with Carraig Dubh cds 7 Stillorgan 1810 1979-92 under Blackrock from c1930 6 Sydney Terrace 1962 1989 closed 1989 Upper Trees Road 1952 NOT SEEN closed 1975 Williamstown 1914 NOT SEEN closed 1980 11 Woodbine Park 1955 1983 also with Carraig Dubh cds in 1992 2 ? NOT SEEN 9 ? 1992-95 Carraig Dubh cds - used by a firm? 10 ? 1995 Carraig Dubh cds - used by a firm? BRAY 2 Albert Av 1964 1981 2 Brennan's Parade 1888 1943-60 "1943 label reads 'Brennan's Parade,/ Bray'. 1960 is 'Bray 2'. closed 1964." 3 Dargle Road 1914 1987 1 Main Str 1888 1980-95 1995 is dated 4.10.95 just a few days before the system changed 4 Newtown Vevay 1914 1959-86 CARLOW 1 Tullow Str 1897 1969 closed 1979 1 Staplestown Road 1980 1986 replaced Tullow Str 2 Graiguecullen 1897 1959-79 also 1983 label reads 'Graiguecullen' CARRICK ON SUIR 1 Carrickbeg 1948 1981-90 CAVAN 1 Pearse Str 1898 1979 opened as Main Str; closed c1976. 'An Cabhan 1' label used at Cavan Head office in 1983 is old Pearse Str stock was being used up. CLONMEL 1 Irishtown 1903 1977-88 1981 has '1' inserted by hand; label reads 'Baile Gaolach/ Cluain Meala' in 1982. 1988 label has 'Irishtown/ Clonmel' inserted by hand on a 'blind' label. COBH 1 Harbour Row 1977-84 closed 1990 Rushbrooke NOT SEEN closed 1928 3 Midleton Str 1974-84 3' label also used at Cobh head office 1990 2 Haulbowline 1943 1943 has '2' inserted by hand. Closed 1981 Spike Island 1898 NOT SEEN closed 1899; reopened 1914-22 DROGHEDA see note James Str 1894 1926-63 Label reads 'Drogheda 2' in 1926; 'Drogheda No 1' in 1929; 'Drogheda 1' in 1963; closed 1975 2 Lawrence Gate 1894 1929 closed 1958; also possibly known as North Strand 1 Mary Str 1977 1984-91 2 Yellowbatter Park 1959 1979-94 DUNDALK 5 Bridge Str 1933 1961-92 "1961 label is 'Dundalk 4' crossed out and '5' inserted by hand. Dundalk 5 in 1975 and 1976. Label reads 'Straid an Droichid' in 1978-82 and again 1989 and 1990, but 'Dundalk 5' in 1987 and 1992" . Castletown Road 1970 NOT SEEN 1 Dublin Str 1888 1958-90 But 'Sraid Baile/ Atha Cliath/ Dun Dealgan' in 1983 2 Quay Str 1880 1954-93 1993 is a blind label with 'Quay St Dundalk' inserted by hand DUNGARVAN 1 Abbeyside 1891 1987 ?closed DUN LAOGHAIRE 4 Cumberland Str 1895 1984 closed 1987 2 Lower George's Str 1879 1987 3 Glasthule 1882 1977 "opened as Albert Road, later Sandycove; renamed 1957" Oliver Plukett Road 1950 NOT SEEN 9 Rochestown Av 1977 1983 Sallynoggin 1912 NOT SEEN Stoneview 1872 NOT SEEN closed c1910 1 Upper George's Str 1914 1956-81 closed by Dec 1999 ENNIS O'Connell Str 1892 1977-89 opened as Jail Str; name changed c1913. Replaced by Market Str c1997? 2 Clonroadmore 1939 1979-92 ENNISCORTHY 1 Duffry Str 1955 1976-80 1 also inserted by hand; Duffry St 1980-91 FERMOY Oliver Plunkett Hill 1894 1961-84 opened as Barrack Hill; name changed 1920; 1961-74 '1'; 19984 'Cnoc Olibheir /Pluingceid Mainisir/ Fhear Muighe' in three lines GALWAY 5 Bohermore 1945 1978-92 1 Dominick Street 1852 1974-91 closed 1991 3 Father Griffin Av 1974 1975-92 replaced Taylor's Hill 7 Mervue 1975 1987-95 4 Newcastle 1938 1986-92 6 Renmore 1970 1986-92 2 Salthill 1852 1954-95 8 Seamus Quirk Road 1986 1986-93 Taylor's Hill 1907 NOT SEEN closed 1974 - assumed to have been 3 KILKENNY 2 Irishtown 1914 1978-86 1985-86 'Irishtown Kilkenny' 1 John Str 1895 1955-90 1989-90 - 'John Street' LIMERICK Athlunkard Street 1896 NOT SEEN also known as Mary Str; closed 1945 Ballinacurra 1950 NOT SEEN closed 1962 11 Ballynantybeg 1957 1975-83 6 Bridge Str 1943 1978-96 Broad Str 1930 NOT SEEN closed 1970 9 Cahirdavin 1933 1971 originally rural TSO from c1977; label 'Caherdavin' 1978-89 3 Clontarf Place 1974 1980-86 9 Dooradoyle 1977 1973-93 5 Edward Str 1886 1944-86 1944-86 Number
(where
known) Office Date office
opened . Dates
reported /
seen Comment 12 Ennis Road 1939 1978-86 closed ?1999 4 Galvone 1972 1981-88 10 Garryowen 1971 1974-86 7 Janesboro' 1970 1980-87 10 John Str 1914 1924 closed 1930 New Str 1893 NOT SEEN closed 1944 2 Patrick Str 1964 1980-86 2 Rutland Str 1875 1939 closed 1963 3 The Crescent 1899 1930-34 closed 1974 4 The Docks 1893 1937 closed 1972 The Markets 1876 NOT SEEN closed c1906 8 Thomondgate 1891 1947-94 Upper Clare Str 1899 NOT SEEN closed 1965 1 William Str 1893 1978-87 also Upper William Str P ?(parcel office) 1982 LONGFORD Earl Str 1946 1959 "closed 1974; label Earl Street, Longford 1959" MALLOW 3 Ballydaheen 1949 1985 MONAGHAN Killygoan 1974 NOT SEEN closed 1990 MULLINGAR Pearse Street 1897 1977-90 "opened as Earl Str; name changed c1921; label 'Pearse Str, Mullingar' 1977-90" NAVAN Blackcastle 1978 NOT SEEN NEW ROSS Irishtown 1950 NOT SEEN closed 1983 SLIGO 1 Castle Street 1902 1961-95 "1961-62 - Sligo 1; Castle Street, Sligo 1978-95" Church Hill 1955 1981 closed 1984;Cnoc na Cille 1981 Maugheraboy 1984 1988 Church Hill label use with name crossed out and Magheraboy added by hand 3 Upper John Str 1944 1946 closed 1955 THURLES Lognafulla 1963 NOT SEEN closed 1971 TRALEE 2 Ballymullen 1918 1971-78 Ballymullen in 1971; Tra Li 2 in 1978 1 Rock Street 1904 1928-89 WATERFORD Ballytruckle 1891 NOT SEEN 2 Barrack Street 1888 1979-84 Broad Str 1914 NOT SEEN closed 1971 11 Cleaboy ? 1992 4 Ferrybank 1847 1975-91 TSO from c1896 1 Gladstone Street 1924 1940-87 10 Gracedieu 1932 1982-90 7 High Street 1971 1975-87 King Str 1876 NOT SEEN originally Thomas Str; closed 1922 12 Lisduggan 1975 1983-84 3 Manor Street 1957 1967-84 closed 1985 11 Morrison's Avenue 1954 1974-89 is this now closed? 5 Newtown 1888 1980-84 Parnell Str 1903 1941 originally Beresford Str; name changed c1912; label Parnell St Waterford 1941; closed 1957 WEXFORD 2 Barrack Street 1896 1928-84 Sráid an Caisleán with WX2 inserted by hand 1988; Wexford 2 in 1928 1 North Main Street 1885 1929-81 Sráid Mór an Cinn Thuaidh 1985-93 YOUGHAL 1 Strand 1894 1959-94 "1 inserted by hand (1959), An Tra Co Chorcai (1982) An Tra Eochaill March 1994; closed 1994" Editorial statement:
In today's cyber-age, its only fitting that we interact in cyberspace. I can't see any reason why the members of our societies should not join in. More and more of our members are now accessing e-mail and the internet.
To subscribe to the Newsletter, send a request by e-mail to webmaster. To remove yourself from receiving the Newsletter, send your request to the same e-mail address.
Viewing of the newsletter is available online from the ÉPA web page.
Past issues are archived and are available for online retrieval, again from the ÉPA web page. E-mail requests for back issues are also accepted.
Members are encouraged to contribute articles or bits of news to the newsletter. I believe that learned treatises belong in our society journals, where they can be shared with all members. I don't feel that a newsletter should ever attempt to be a replacement for our journals.
"Newsy" bits would certainly interest me personally and would seem to be ideal for a newsletter such as this.
Requests for information and help with puzzling items can be submitted and, hopefully, some reader will have an answer.
Brief articles or informational pieces would also be welcome.
If you have e-mail access, you can send articles by e-mail to webmaster.
For those in the U.S.A., libraries providing access and free e-mail sites are proliferating. Members could access the Web even without home or office access to cyberspace.
Input from members can even come via our beloved snail-mail.
Submitters should understand that any material published in the newsletter would, automatically, become available for publication in our journals.
