• International Christmas Posting Dates Fast Approaching• Christmas stamps now on sale

3 December 2006

Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada,
Hong Kong, Israel, Central/South America, 
India & Philippines:                                 Tues, Dec 5th for Standard  (Airmail) parcels

                                                        Thurs Dec 7th for Standard (Airmail) Post letters

Europe:                                             Sat, Dec 9th for Standard Post parcels

                                                        Mon, Dec 18 for Standard Post letters

Northern Ireland and Britain:               Mon, Dec 18 for Standard Post letters & parcels

Ireland:                                     Tues, Dec 19 for Standard Post letters & parcels

Customers are reminded to always seal envelopes, wrap parcels carefully, check addresses and postage and also include the sender’s address on the front, top-left corner of the envelope or parcel.

A Christmas stamp booklet containing 26 self-adhesive 48c stamps (including one free stamp) is now on sale at all Post Offices, priced €12.    These stamps cover standard postage for Christmas cards to addresses within the island of Ireland and feature an image of The Nativity by the 16th century Flemish artist, Simon Bening.

Two traditional Christmas stamps, in denominations of 48c (postage within Ireland) and 75c (standard airmail postage to the rest of the world) are also available.  It is important to put a blue Airmail sticker – available at all Post Offices - on all Airmail items.  The stamps were designed by Belfast-born PJ Lynch and feature atmospheric images of the Madonna and child, and a shepherd.

Please contact the Press Office for further information.  Visit our Media Centre for more press releases and other resources.