Friday January 29 was the last day of service for two workmates and friends who I have known and respected for all of what some would call our adult lives. The two people I write about here are Raymond O meara and Patrick Doran both post persons in Baldoyle District Office. Ray known as Mara even before P J got the monocle is the elder of the two by a couple of years, but in some mannerisms and attitude they would be very similar.
Neither wore a watch and what struck me even years ago was the both never seemed to be in any kind of rush. To put it plainly neither would be considered to be a sprinter more a pair of long distance chasers.
Time was not the enemy and everything would be done in its own good time. The saying Rome wasn’t build in a day rings true with this pair and the reason in the delay in finishing the eternal city was that the pair of them were employed on the construction and that’s what held it up. Both breezed in to work and the own pace, early may I add and in all the years that I know them I have never seen them covered in perspiration.
They looked like two people whose heart rate never went above the high 30s. There always seemed to be time for a cup of tea a chat and discussion on every subject under the sun. Maras forte was mainly golf, horseracing and soccer but he also he had a wide knowledge of other topics. He may have been very knowledgeably when it came to the equine game but unfortunately his tips did not put the bookmakers under any large financial strain as I know to my cost.
Ray was born and bred in Baldoyle and had been on duty in the Sutton area of our district for more than 20 years of his long service, not only to An Post but also to the Department of P and T. His popularity among his workmates, neighbours and the people he delivered tell you if you didn’t already know what a good human being he is. He would always look for the good in someone rather than the bad. Forever willing to lend a helping hand. Someone I have known for nearly half a century before we ever worked in the Post Office you might say I am biased so I have to admit I am.
Doran’s main passion besides his wife and family were and still are cycling which he participated in for many years and now coaches, sports injuries and photography. Once the daffodils bloom you can see the change in him as he looks forward to events like the Tour De France and the Giro Italia. A cyclist since before he entered his teens and a winner of stages in the tour of Ireland in his time he has also written books on cycling and you can see from his demeanour that he still loves his sport.
He set up singlehandedly the Irish Post worker. Com site some years ago to give all grades of the workforce a chance to express their own opinion on matters that might or could affect them. The site is not employer or Union driven and his idea was that people in the middle, i.e. the employees in an post, who might find it stressful to speak at meetings, would find it that bit easier to put their thoughts and ideas forward on this site. Also contributor’s privacy is respected. True democracy is that thers respect for the rights of all to air their views whether we agree or disagree with the sentiments expressed. Debate never hurt anyone and Paddy by nurturing what was his baby has given us that.
Ray and Paddy over the years contributed to every collection that was made and they were held in great esteem by all in Baldoyle D O. Mara to his credit has no enemies and his popularity among his clients was shown on last Sunday when the priest felt compelled to announce his retirement to the congregation at one of the masses. This is not what my grandfather used to be called being read from the altar.
The turnout for the retirement party in Grangers in Baldoyle was attended by people of every grade and age group in the Post office and colleagues and former colleagues and a great turnout of CWU Dublin district branch branch officers and CWU officer joe guinan showed their appreciation by attending The age spread went from those in the very early 20s to those in the mid seventy range and even some who have been dyeing the little bit of hair they have left and telling porkies about their age for years
Both were tremendous ambassadors not only for An Post the CWU but also their friends and colleagues in the District they worked in. Both would not hurt a fly and the and the spider and his web would have been protected too. The Post Office may or may not have changed but this deadly duo has remained unchanged over the last 2 score years. Mara strolling nonchantly into our old district office from his home faces it and Doran gazing skyward as he arrived, at a flock of birds passing overhead those are the memories etched in my mind. They’re not really retiring, life is only moving to a different cycle.
A friend of Both