An Post pays tribute to the late Mayo Postmistress Maureen Sweeney

18 December 2023

An Post has paid tribute to former Belmullet and Black Sod postmistress, Maureen Sweeney, who passed away the weekend just gone aged 100 years.   Maureen’s weather report saved the D-Day landings from a catastrophic storm.  

In those days, some local postmasters or postmistresses were tasked with the important job of monitoring meteorological instruments. Aged 21, Maureen’s careful measurements on 3^rd June from Mayo’s Blacksod Bay identified a drop in pressure signalling an impending storm over the Atlantic. As a result of this forecast being forwarded to the Allied Expeditionary  Force in England, the US general Dwight Eisenhower postponed the D-Day landing from 5^th June to 6^th June.
 
An Post CEO David McRedmond said “We’re very proud of Postmistress Maureen Sweeney and we named a meeting room in our new EXO HQ after her, looking out along the Liffey,  Dublin Bay and beyond.  We’ll always remember her fondly and we’re designing a postmark in her honour.  We send our deepest condolences to Maureen’s family and friends. May she rest in peace. “
 
In 2021, Maureen Sweeney was awarded a special US House of Representatives honour for her role in World War Two.