Popular Laghey postman Joe Gorman retires after 40 years

Popular Laghey postman Joe Gorman hung up his mailbag for the last time on Friday – after almost 40 years delivering the post.

Joe had spent two years working in construction when a chance of a lifetime presented itself in 1983.

The travelling around the country – in the van to Cork, Kerry, Wicklow, Galway and all corners in between - and the uncertainty of the construction industry was taking a toll on mind and body.

Joe went to Dublin and interviewed for what was then the P&T (Posts and Telegraphs). He worked in Sherriff Street in Dublin at first.

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“That was a very different experience,” he tells Donegal Live. “You were in what seemed like a military camp and the regulations up there were very strict.

“When I got a call to do the interview, I just saw it as a job for life, really.”

Paddy Feely, who lived just a mile from where Joe grew up in Laghey, was retiring in early 1984, when An Post was born. Joe successfully applied to fill the vacancy and soon he was back on home turf.

“Paddy handed back the bag and that was it,” Joe says. “I tried to get back as soon as I heard that Paddy was retiring. I applied for Laghey. I didn't drive when I went to Dublin at first, but they took me on a driving course and I got my licence.”

Bar what he calls some 'peripheral changes', he has been Laghey based ever since.

The son of sheep farmer Joe and Noel, who worked in the mart in Donegal – a popular figure at the sheep fair on Tuesdays and the cattle fair on Fridays - Joe married Ruth in 1987 and they reared a family of five.

Donie McIntyre and Sean Martin from Murvagh Golf Club make a presentation to Joe Gorman

“The role of the postman has changed massively,” he says. “Times we would go to an older person's house and take in a bucket of turf. You'd maybe get someone a loaf of bread and milk; little things just to help people.

“You'd go into different houses for tea; people loved to see you coming. I met some lovely people over the years. The Covid-19 pandemic changed a lot of that and definitely made the job harder. You didn't have the same connection to the people.”

The job felt like a different role lately, too.

Last month, Joe noticed a changing world as he reflected on Christmases past.

“I remember years ago and getting six or seven trays of letters a day around Christmas time. Now, you'd get two.

“There are definitely a lot fewer Christmas cards being sent now. Mobile phones and the way the young generation operates is just not the same kind of system at all.

“There are a lot of parcels nowadays – I would say double the amount since before the pandemic started.”

Friday felt something like a roller-coaster. An avid listener to Marty Whelan on RTÉ Lyric FM each morning, he stopped in his tracks when George Hamilton, sitting in for Whelan, beamed a good luck request to the nation.

Joe was emotional as he delivered his last post, to Noel Keating, on Friday afternoon.

“I was well drained by that stage and I was definitely ready for home,” he says.

“Friday was very emotional. I was getting ready to say goodbye to people. Some people were out crying and hugging me. I was shaky when I came back to the house. It's only a few days ago, but it is a lovely memory.”

He served upwards on 600 homes in the locality, his area having expanded in 2009. Previously, he was based out of Laghey Post Office, but '09 saw the various postmen centralised to a new hub in Donegal Town.

Joe says he's indebted to John Lafferty and Paul Crampsie in the Donegal Town base and also assistant manger Donal McMullan for their support.

The 6.45am starts are no more, but Joe has no immediate retirement plans.

“It's just seemed like a bit of a holiday so far,” he says. “I'm still getting up early, but I don't plan to do too much yet. I'll get out cycling when the weather is good.

“I loved my time in the job. Honestly, it was a pleasure and an honour. I'll definitely miss it. It was a great job to be in.”