by Alan Jacques
A COFFIN was carried through the streets of Croom last Friday as part of a protest organised by locals to express their anger over the imminent closure of the Ulster Bank branch in town.
The macabre sight was meant to signify the ‘death sentence’ imposed on Croom for March 13 next with the closure of the local Ulster Bank and with it the withdrawal of the last ATM Machine in the village. The nearest ATM Machine is now 14 kilometres away.
Around 300 protesters took to Main Street last Friday calling on the bank to retain its services in Croom. Local Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins said the decision to close the branch was a “huge blow” to Croom following the closure of the AIB bank 18 months ago.
Deputy Collins is flabbergasted at the decision, insisting it is even harder to understand, considering that the ATM machine in Croom dispenses €7 million cash into the local economy each year.
“I believe that all decisions must have a people and community focus, otherwise the decline of our communities will continue unabated. On behalf of the people of Croom, I have petitioned the chief executive of Ulster Bank to reconsider his decision,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has written to the Chairman of the Oireachtas Finance Committee, Liam Twomey, to ask him to invite Ulster Bank to come before the committee to explain the closure of rural branches, including Croom.
“The closure of Ulster Bank in Croom will mean that there will be no ATM in the town. Those living in the area or passing through will have no access to cash. This will mean that people will leave the area to spend money and this has the potential to be extremely damaging for local businesses,” he said.
Local Fine Gael councillor Tom Neville believes it is vital for Croom that Ulster Bank retain the ATM in order to maintain footfall which would encourage people to spend in the area.
“The people of Croom and neighbouring parishes including my own, Kilfinny, have supported this bank down through the years. Ulster bank now need to do their duty by the people of Croom and surrounding areas and retain this ATM,” he said.
Independent councillor for the municipal district of Adare-Rathkeale, Emmett O’Brien, went as far as hailing the decision by Ulster Bank to close its Croom branch as a “coldhearted and regressive step” taken by unaccountable bank executives in a city far away.
He warned that the consequences of closing the branch will be “appalling” on the business and farm sector in Croom and said it amounted to treating the local residents with “contempt”.
“Croom is one of the bigger towns in rural County Limerick with a large agricultural and light industry hinterland. It is crucial that an ATM machine in the town is retained. Ulster Bank’s decision to retreat from this part of rural Limerick is yet another assault of rural Limerick in light of continued pub, post office and Garda station closures.
“Small businesses and farms are the life blood of rural employment. These businesses need a bank, these businesses sustain jobs, jobs sustain families and families sustain rural communities. It is clear that the people of Croom are not backing away from this reckless decision easily,” he said.
