Ballyhaunis Chamber has launched a petition to try and get Bank of Ireland to change its mind on a recent announcement to close its branch in the town.
Chamber CEO Anne Cunnane in a statement this week, said: "Recently, Bank of Ireland announced a number of closures of bank branches all over Ireland. When Ballyhaunis branch was announced as one of those, we here in the community of Ballyhaunis were very disappointed.
"While we recognise that there is a trend worldwide for internet banking and a lot of services are available online – there is still a need for personal contact in many issues.
"Ballyhaunis town is unique in Ireland with the level of employment associated with a small rural town and we would leave most similar towns in the shade with the amount of employment provided here.
"We have a number of industries employing in excess of 500 people each along with many indigenous businesses built up here over decades.
"The town also boasts a number of smaller retailers and producers, manufacturers that contribute to a very active community that extends out to adjoining areas like Ballinlough, Granlahan, Tooreen, Aughamore, Kilkelly, Brickens, Gorthaganny, Cloonfad etc.
"We have set up an online petition which can be viewed on our Facebook page. We would invite every resident of the town and every business in the area to sign this petition.
"Please share with your neighbours, employees, friends, work colleagues and people you know who commute to and from the area or who return to the area regularly.
"We want to create an awareness of the effect the closure is having on our community you can find the petition at https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/keep-ballyhaunis-bank-of-ireland-branch-open.
"We are also getting in touch with all our local representatives, councillors, TDs etc. We feel we need to challenge those decisions and not just take them lying down.
"Maybe if enough people make it known that we are not happy about the decision and demand it to be reversed – people power just might have a positive effect. So please join our campaign to keep our bank branch open and help to revive our community."
