Volume 3, Number 7

Irish Philatelic Newsletter

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 

[Editor’s Note: Brian wrote about the booklet in the June 2001 issue.]

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

Burtonport 
John 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 2001
Robert 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

Battle of Kinsale Stamps
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 Increase
Maurice 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 Results
Maurice 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 Ireland
Stan Challis
challis@guernsey.net

[Editor’s Note: Stan presented us with a table of Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire in the December 2000 issue.]

This is something I promised you back at the start of the year.

Best wishes

Stan Challis
Guernsey

REGISTRATION LABELS 
THE SMALLER TOWNS – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 
Number
(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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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