Eircode gets Galway moving!

An entire swathe of the North East Galway population has been excommunicated from the county…and banished to the land of their arch rivals in neighbouring Roscommon.

The rollout of the new €27m Eircode system has brought up some strange anomalies in addresses – and with it an avalanche of fury from Galwegians living in border towns.

Those living in and around Ballygar, Glenamaddy, Williamstown, Creggs and Ballymoe have seen their addresses changed from County Galway to Roscommon according to the new register.

In fact those receiving letters in these border towns and villages have had their addresses crossed out and changed in case they were in any doubt as to their location.

It’s enough to send the legion of Galway football fans into apoplexy even before a ball is thrown in on the Donegal game, admits local TD Denis Naughten.

“I’ve been inundated with phone calls from people from outside Ballinasloe and South Roscommon. According to Eircode, half of the Roscommon football team should be wearing maroon and white jerseys instead of blue and primrose next year,” he revealed.

“People on the county borders don’t want a situation where they’re getting their noses rubbed in it all the time. Changing people’s addresses is undermining the credibility of the system. People won’t use it if it keeps reminding them you’re in Co Roscommon rather than Galway.”

The more serious side to the change is that people will ultimately not use the new code if it does not correctly reflect where they live, the independent Deputy believes.

“Eircode will be critical for emergency services once it’s bedded down, it’s going to make a real difference for ambulance crews and fire brigade units to locate houses. But if people don’t use it, it’s not going to work,” he insisted.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.