Taoiseach Enda Kenny may have some stormy weather ahead but he took time to lead tributes to weather-forecasting postman Michael Gallagher who has retired from An Post after 48 years service.
Postman Michael Gallagher
Mickey Gallagher, postman and weather forecaster from Glenfin, finally hung up his postbag recently.
The 66-year-old, from Glenfin, said he enjoyed every single day delivering letters to the people of the Bluestack Mountains.
Michael uses signs of nature picked up from older folk to predict the weather.
More than 200 people packed into a bar in Brockagh last weekend to thank Michael for all his service and to wish him well.
In a letter, hand-delivered for the occasion, the Taoiseach recalled: “As my mother was a McGinley from Donegal I was reared on stories such as waiting for the postman to arrive with news from relatives not just in Ireland but spread across the world.
Loyal
“Over your 48 years of loyal service to the Irish postal service you ensured that the people of Donegal received those precious letters … I am sure they did not thank you for the many bills you delivered but that’s all part of the service.
“You also distinguish yourself in predicting the weather patterns based on your study of nature and I hope you continue to do so,” Mr Kenny wrote.
Michael also got letters from FAI chief John Delaney and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
Father-of-three Michael says he will still try to predict the weather and plans to write his memoirs. He thinks – having studied berries in hedges – it will be a calm autumn ahead with plenty of dry weather.
