AIB’s U-turn on closing 70 mainly rurally based branches across the country has been welcomed by West of Ireland farming representatives this week.

However, according to the IFA, ‘it should never have come to this’ – from a bank that is around 70% owned by the Irish Government and taxpayers.

If the original decision announced last week had gone ahead, then by October 21 next, AIB branches in Athenry, Ballinasloe, Clifden, Gort, Oranmore, Salthill, Spiddal, Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Castlerea would be closed.

National IFA Farm Business Chair, Rose Mary McDonagh, told the Farming Tribune that it had been ‘absolutely disheartening’ to see what AIB had tried to do as regards their rural customers.

“If this had gone ahead, it would have been another awful blow for rural Ireland and would also have been a direct hit on the older cohort of bank customers,” said Rose Mary McDonagh.

She said that since AIB had made their closures announcement last week there had been an outcry across rural Ireland from many different sectors including farmers, politicians, the GAA, small businesses and older people.

“It really was such an ill-considered decision by the management and board of a bank who are quite simply out of touch with the ordinary people of Ireland.

“We need people brought into this bank who are familiar with the banking and financial needs of rural Ireland,” Rose Mary McDonagh said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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