It’s the end of an era for Courtown as Dunbars General Store has been providing community service and amenities to locals over the last six decades, including services from the post office.
Noel Dunbar Postmaster from Dunbars Shop Courtown. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench
The shop excluding the post office, officially closed to the public on Sunday, September 28. Initially, when Dunbars announced the store would be closing, Courtown locals feared the community would lose the post office.
Noel Dunbar, shop owner and postmaster of Dunbars said the post office would remain open, with the shop sectioned off.
Although the post office remains open now, Noel promises to keep a post office in Courtown if the premises is sold. “I’ll stay here in the post office until the premises is sold, if someone comes in and they want to own a shop – they’ll keep the post office because of the footfall,” he said.
With many opportunities for the property, Noel said he will relocate the post office if he has to and will make sure that a post office stays in Courtown.
Closing a family business is never easy, Noel said was a decision that was not taken lightly. Dunbars shop was opened in 1950 by Noel’s father, Declan who passed away in 2023. He later became a postmaster in Courtown, providing the post office in store from 1968.
Noel had been putting off the shop’s closure for quite some time, as the business had been passed down from his late father. “We held on as long as we could – it’s been a tough one.
“It’s been struggling for the last couple of years, we’ve been keeping it off for sentiment reasons more than anything,” Noel said.
One of the biggest reasons for the shops closure was due to the rising costs to sustain the business. “Enough was enough, the small man is being hit the whole time – everything is really geared for the big boys now,” he said.
Noel said as costs continue to rise it becomes harder to provide for the community, including items that could be expensive elsewhere. “Everything is changing – we were selling Kerosene and heating oil for people who can’t afford to buy large amounts of heat.
He said it was extremely difficult to say goodbye to the shop he grew up with and the difficulty of having to let staff go. “There were four girls working here, we didn’t like letting them go, but unfortunately we had to make a decision and say that was it.”
The residential unit for sale with commerical presmises in Courtown.
The property was recently listed for sale and consists of both a residential and commercial unit, which is on the market for €750,000. Subdivided, the local post office operates from the commercial side with diesel pump and storage to the front.
The residential is split into four units and offers plenty opportunity for potential use, spanning over 240 square metres. The property can be converted back into a four or five bedroom house.
Situated in the heart of Courtown village, it is just a short walk to the beach excellent connectivity while maintaining a relaxed coastal charm.
The sale of the property is being overseen by HWP Residential and Commercial property.