End of an era as Longford's Ulster Bank closes its doors for the last time

The Victorian building is a study in opulence and grandeur; high ceiling, big window and the ornate cornices all hint at a glorious past.

A past coming to an end. There are other details to convince the observer of the durability implied when architect James Bell first came up with the plans for the financial institution.

The counter top is exquisite. The burnished wood has carved detail, plates of marble are held in place with embellished brass studs. It's a functional feature raised to art.

Leaning over this counter is a customer, he's left it to the last day to conclude his affairs. He's speaking to the lady on the other side, asking how long she worked there: “I'll be 26 years here this year,” the reply comes.

The Main Street branch was built in 1863, a time when conveying permeance, security and reliability was more than just superficial. Its facade is ashlar limestone with the beautiful carved sandstone Riverine heads as keystones to the ground floor window.

Those four River Gods have seen a lot in the 160 years they have presided over the town. Moments in history that have shaped the town, the county and even the country.

There is an irony to the fact that in 1913 Kathleen Booth, a women's suffragette, chained herself to the railings of the Main Street building in protest at the all-male world of banking. That protest was about the patriarch's use of financial rules to prevent women from getting loans, depriving them of capital and therefore independence.

Today, the last day of the bank's operation, there are only women working in the building. Branch manager Niamh Donlon is in the company of Sharon Hall, Martina Igoe and Karen Walsh for their final day of dealing with the public, in three days time their work will be finished.

Last Friday the Longford branch was one of Ulster Bank's 63 remaining in the Republic to close the doors for the last time.
It has been a lingering demise. In February of 2021 parent company NatWest announced it was pulling out of Ireland. Since then it has been milestone after milestone in the journey to closure.

“For the last two years since the announcement we have had people closing and moving their accounts. Loyal customers down through years,” Niamh tells the Leader.

She sits at a desk in the office beyond the realm of the public. The solid steel door of the document vault is open. It yields a view of rows of shelves denuded of the written history of the bank's transactions.

This is one of the earliest buildings constructed in the southern counties by a Belfast bank. Its three stories once contained the living quarters of the Manager's family. Built to be there forever.

“I'm in Longford since 2009,” Niamh tells, “I came here from Athlone. It was great to come back to my hometown, where I knew people. Longford was always a very successful branch.”

At the time Longford branch had 22 staff members, as the wind up concludes there are seven working on site.

It's a tough situation for workers who have given decades of service to finish up their employment. The other side of the counter has also had difficulty coming to terms with the change: “We've had customers come in who are very, very upset. It's been a very emotional thing,” Niamh explained.

This building is one of the principal elements of the architectural heritage of Main Street. The quality boundary wall and wrought-iron gates and railings set it apart from other buildings: “There is definitely interest in it. It would make a lovely gallery or restaurant. It's in great repair, there is very little to be done with it. There is a big car park at the rear,” the branch manager says.

Staff member Martina Igoe has worked with Ulster bank for 31 years: “It is a very emotional day,” she says, “it was a great place to work. Great customers and great colleagues. Banking has very much gone digital. That's the big change.”
Martina said the 2021 announcement was a shock: “I didn't think they would ever shut. It was threatened in the past, but we never thought it would come to fruition, but this is it, today is our last day.”

Niamh laments the ending of the relationship between the bank and the community: “I would like to thank all the loyal customers who supported us down through the years. I have to thank the branch staff. They worked so hard over the years and supported me so much in my time here. I was so lucky with them all and it is so sad to be leaving it behind.”