The Central Bank has launched a new map showing the location of every ATM and cash service point in the country. From today members of the public can also use an online form to notify the regulator if they believe there is insufficient access to cash in their area.
For the community of Ballygar, located on the Galway-Roscommon border along the N63, securing access to cash has been a long running issue for local residents.
Situated 17km from Roscommon town and 15km from Mountbellew, Ballygar is best known for hosting the Ballygar Carnival, one of Ireland’s longest-running family festivals, which began in 1945.
Concerns regarding access to cash began in 2021 when Bank of Ireland closed its Ballygar branch as part of a nationwide restructuring programme and shift towards online banking.
The closure also resulted in the loss of the town’s only external on-street ATM, leaving residents without 24-hour access to cash.
Maria Kelly, who runs Kenny’s Bar on Main Street, remembers the impact.
“At that time, when it was up and running and during its height, it was recognised to be one of the busiest ATMs in the region between Ballinasloe and Longford. So, in 2021, when the Bank of Ireland closed its doors, we lost that ATM and it definitely … left a void in the local community and the need for an ATM was highlighted by its absence,” she said.
Even before the bank closed, local businesses were considering how best to respond to changing banking services.
For Ollie Holmes and his family who run the town’s Centra Supermarket there was initially a reluctance to install an ATM because of concerns it could undermine efforts to retain the local bank.
“The issue was a bit of a 50-50 one for us because we were conscious of keeping the bank here in town and we were afraid that if we put in an ATM it might give the bank the opportunity to leave, and so we held off for a few years,” Mr Holmes said.
As services continued to diminish, the supermarket eventually installed an in-store ATM.
“In terms of cash and the disposal of cash, suddenly the bank wasn’t taking money certain days of the week.
“So then the issue for us was how do we get rid of cash in a safer manner because you can’t be transporting it on the road and going to the bank maybe 10 miles away. So then at that point we decided, okay, well the bank has forced our hand on it,” he said.
Despite the rise in card payments, Mr Holmes believes cash remains an important part of everyday business in Ballygar.
“We went from about 25% of our transactions being on credit card and debit card, up to 85% in Covid.
“And that was because obviously it was encouraged by the Government and everyone else for the safety but once Covid was over, the number came back down from 85% to about 65% and then it has since dropped back again to about 55%.
“So you could say it’s 50-50 cash versus card transactions for us,” he added.
At the other end of the town, Ballygar Post Office also caters for those needing access to cash.
“We’re kind of like an ATM here in the post office. You can lodge and withdraw cash from your AIB and your Bank of Ireland and your An Post account here the same way as you can down in the ATM,” local post mistress Mary Delaney said.
She believes cash continues to play an important social and practical role.
“Really young children need to know how to, it teaches them how to count, how to budget.
“I mean, if it’s all within the bank account and they don’t even see it, they can tap, tap, tap away. The older people in particular like to have cash.
“It’s nice to have a few pound in your pocket when you see somebody collecting for charity. When you meet a grandchild, you meet some child in the street that you want to give a few pound to, birthday presents, even going to mass.
“There might be a church gate collection or there might be throwing a few pound in the basket. Cash is king and it’ll always be king, I think, myself,” she said.
But do her post office customers agree?
One local man shared his love for legal tender, saying: “I use cash all the time, but I don’t go to ATMs or anything like that, just when I get paid with my pension here, I hold on to my cash and I pay my bills with cash, the few bills I have. My wife is in there now, she never carries cash herself.”
Another lady from the nearby village of Dysart in Co Roscommon said: “It’s very important and where we live now is a good 10 minutes away, so it’s the nearest ATM to us.”
She said access to cash is also important for her teenage daughter despite using digital methods.
“I don’t have a bank card myself now. I use the Revolut, but my friends definitely use it.”
For local retailers, transaction charges remain a significant issue.
Mike Conway of Conway Family Butchers in Ballygar outlined how the majority of purchases in his shop are still made via electronic payments but he is hopeful that may change.
“There’s a lot of charges that people don’t realise, they’re crippling for small businesses and hopefully people will go back to cash,” he said.
With demand for 24-hour access to cash growing, Maria Kelly and other locals in Ballygar began a campaign to restore a much-missed service.
Ballygar Regeneration Group was formed and came together at the start of this year, fuelled by local volunteers in the community who had the desire to do something more.
“We spoke about the void left in the town without access to cash and having that 24/7 ATM.
“Our first item on the agenda was working together with the Athenry Credit Union to see if it is possible to get an ATM into town. And thanks to their support and their commitment to Ballygar that they have now installed, two weeks ago, an ATM into town,” Ms Kelly said.
The new ATM, installed by Athenry Credit Union at the town square, has restored 24-hour cash access for residents and visitors.
Geraldine Kelly of Ballygar Regeneration Group has lived in the town for more than three decades and believes the return of an on-street ATM will also bring a boost for local businesses.
“I think people have had less reason to stop because if you stop at the ATM the chances are you will go into the local shop, buy something, it has a knock-on effect,” she said.
At Ballygar’s volunteer-run community café, the return of the on-street ATM is the talk of the town. Over a cup of tea, one woman shares her thoughts on why it was needed.
“I’m delighted that there’s a second ATM , especially on street, because when Centra closes you can’t get in or out and you’d have to travel to Roscommon or Mountbellew to get an ATM.
“Then from a business perspective, it costs every time you tap, it costs you and it costs the company money. So, cash is still king as far as I’m concerned,” the woman added.
For another woman, the memories of the impact of Storm Éowyn on Ballygar and electricity outages since remain.
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“I think it’s always very handy to have some cash available because occasionally, and especially in times of crisis like a power cut, all the ATMs closed down, everything. So, it is very important,” she said.
The older generation and their requirements come to mind for one local woman, saying: “I’ve seen an elderly man going to the ATM. Now I don’t know did he use it, but he just was having a look at it. So, it’s important for them too so it is, because like a lot of them wouldn’t have cars to go anywhere to get the money and cash and we all like cash.”
While Ballygar has succeeded in restoring its on-street ATM, Maria Kelly believes more should be done to help other rural communities secure greater access to cash services.
“Small rural communities like Ballygar, we do feel neglected 100%. I don’t understand why it does take local volunteers and local people to be constantly begging when the systems should be there and are there, apparently,” she said.
“But delivery of service is not there unless we have to go crying out for these services.”
