Coolkenno History

PADDY DEEGAN: OUR LAST NATIVE POSTMAN - On numerous times, I've been asked about information regarding Paddy Deegan of Coolkenno; our last native postman. Thanks to his granddaughter Nicola Deegan for now I've been able to piece together his story. Paddy Deegan was born in Ballyconnell in 1908 to Robert and Kate Deegan. Robert Deegan's own ancestry stems back to Co. Offaly, through his father, Robert Snr, a carpenter, who moved to the area in the 1870s to marry a local lady, Anne St. Ledger. It appears the postal service also ran deep in the Deegan heritage. Paddy's father, Robert, was a local postman alongside his own brother Willie and walked or cycled the routes for 44 years before his son, the above mentioned Paddy, took over. In 1933, Paddy married Bridget Dempsey of Coolkenno and together they made a family and a fine home along Coolkenna Street, beside the Sunday School. In 1946, Paddy took on a role as postman, through Coolkenno Post Office, and harboured long treks around the Coolkenno, Boley, Crablane and Aghowle areas for many years. He is still renowned by our older generations for his old-time gentlemanly ways and his beloved interest in gardening. In some descriptions of Paddy, his generous ways included calling to homes around the area to see if anybody needed messages for the following day, regardless if post was to be delivered to that house or not. He travelled twenty miles per day, six days a week for the first nineteen years and then this was extended to twenty five miles per day for the last eight years of his employment. On New Years Eve 1973, Paddy Deegan retired his postal job from Coolkenno Post Office and took up gardening in his retirement. Unfortunately, his wife, Bridget, passed away in 1975. In 1991, Paddy Deegan, our last native postman, passed away. RIP (Pictorial Courtesy and many thanks to Nicola Deegan