A large crowd is expected at a meeting tonight being held to protest at AIB’s decision to close its branch in Goath Dobhair.
The decision by AIB, which will see eight out of the sixteen branches across Donegal close in the coming months, has sent shockwaves through the community.
The move will see a number of branches including Lifford, Dunfanaghy, Raphoe, Falcarragh, Gaoth Dobhair, Milford, Bundoran and Moville close its door for good.
Local post offices are expected to pick up some of its basic banking services.
However the closure of many West Donegal branches including Falcarragh and Gaoth Dobhair means that people will have to travel to Dungloe to carry out any business.
An angry crowd is expected to demand answers as to why AIB is closing the Gaoth Dobhair branch which was a profitable business.
One local banking source told Donegal Daily that as well as the economic consequences with the bank’s closure, there is also a serious social downside.
“If anybody were to walk past the AIB bank in Gaoth Dobhair on any morning they would see people gathering for a chat.
“That is the side of Donegal life that these banking bigwigs are no taking into account.
“All they are concerned about is the bottom lie and not the welfare of their customers. This is another nail in the coffin of rural Ireland and we can’t allow it to happen,” he said.
The meeting against the bank’s closure is tonight at 7pm in the Udaras na Gaeltachta offices in Gaoth Dobhair.
Local public representatives including local Junior Minister Dinny McGinley have been invited to attend.
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