The Singing Postman retires

Christened by RTÉ’s Mike Murphy as the Singing Postman, Johnny Irwin celebrated his retirement from An Post on Friday after 44 years of service.

Johnny delivered post all over Mullingar during his time, but was based around Irishtown, Walshestown and Slanemore for the last 15 years, and says he will miss his rounds.

“Those people living out there were the salt of the earth to me. They were very good to me,” he told the Westmeath Examiner. “I delivered all over Mullingar at one time or another.

“I tell you one thing I won’t miss though, and that’s getting up every morning at half five,” he laughs.

Johnny still sings at weekends with his family. He was in the showband scene back in the day, and remembers going straight in to work after being up all night.

“There’s lots of stories I could tell, probably most of them you couldn’t print, but I do remember one night being locked up in the cell at the garda station.

“I think it was the ’80s, I was trying to get into the yard at the back of Mullingar Post Office, and couldn’t. So I went round to the lads (gardaí) to see if they could open it or me.

“A few of them were having their Christmas do, and they wanted me to go and sing at it. I was still working and told them I couldn’t. So they locked me up for three hours, and when I came out again, the van was still running!”

Speaking of his retirement, Johnny said: “My colleagues gave me a great send-off, we had a fantastic night in Butlers. I’ll keep up with my music now and I’m looking forward to doing a bit of travelling, and just relaxing.

“Sure that’s what retirement is all about.”

• Photos from Johnny’s send-off in this week’s Westmeath Examiner.