Find Your Nearest An Post — Ireland’s Complete Post Office Guide
There are over 900 An Post offices across Ireland. Whether you are in Dublin city centre or a small village in County Mayo, there is almost always one close by. This guide helps you find it fast and shows you exactly what you can do when you get there.
What Is An Post and Why It Still Matters
An Post is Ireland’s national postal service. It is state-owned and has been running since 1984, when it was established under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983. Today it does far more than deliver letters.
Your local An Post is one of the most useful stops in any Irish town. You can send a parcel, pay your ESB bill, apply for a passport, exchange foreign currency, and even open a bank account — all in one visit. For many people, especially in rural areas, it is a vital community service.
In 2024, An Post delivered 54 million parcels and 360 million letters to 2.47 million addresses across Ireland. That makes it one of the most active logistics networks in the country.
How to Find an An Post Near You Right Now
The easiest way is through the official store locator at anpost.com. Type your address or Eircode and it shows you the closest branches with full details.
A few quick options:
On your phone: Search “An Post near me” in Google Maps. Your location is used automatically and results appear instantly.
Using your Eircode: The Eircode routing system helps An Post deliver accurately, especially in rural areas where townland names are common. Always include your Eircode when sending post.
By phone: Call An Post directly on 01 705 7200, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.
There are over 900 post offices and Post Points across Ireland. Post Points are found in local newsagents and convenience stores. They handle some services like stamps and top-ups, but not everything a full post office offers.
It’s a good idea to check your local branch schedule most post offices open Monday to Saturday, with a slightly later Tuesday start. While you’re there, you can also recharge your prepaid phone at the counter, making it easy to handle multiple errands in a single visit.
What Services You Can Use at Your Local An Post
Most people only use An Post to send post. But the full list of services is much longer. Here is what is available at the majority of branches.
Sending Letters and Parcels
Standard post for letters under 100g starts from €1.40 for domestic delivery. Express Post guarantees next working day delivery across Ireland from €7.35. International post starts from €2.05 for European destinations.
For parcels, you can send tracked, insured, or registered items. All tracked items use a 13-character tracking code in the format RR123456789IE. You can track your item in real time at anpost.com.
An Post delivers 98% of domestic parcels within three working days. This is independently verified by ComReg, Ireland’s postal regulator.
For parcels, you can send tracked, insured or registered items. All tracked items use a 13-character tracking code in the format RR123456789IE. You can easily track your shipment in real time using our Ireland Post tracking tool or directly through the official website.
Passport Express Applications
You can apply for a new Irish passport or renew an existing one at most An Post offices. The service is called Passport Express. It is the only postal method accepted in Ireland for passport applications.
Bring two passport photos, your completed application form, and your supporting documents. Staff at the counter check everything before it is sent. There is no need to book an appointment in advance.
Banking at the Post Office
An Post offers everyday banking at nearly 900 locations across Ireland, six days a week. If you are an AIB or Bank of Ireland customer, you can lodge cash, withdraw money, and process cheques at the counter.
An Post also has its own current account through An Post Money. The monthly fee is €6. It comes with a Visa debit card, online banking, and a mobile app. You can open an account in branch — it typically takes 30 to 45 minutes.
An Post is authorised by the Minister for Finance to provide payment services and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Bill Payments and TV Licence
You can pay almost any household bill at the post office. This includes electricity, gas, phone, and TV licence. The service is free — no fees or charges apply. Just bring your bill or account reference number.
TV licensing in Ireland is administered by An Post. You can pay your licence fee directly at the counter or renew online and pay in branch.
Foreign Currency Exchange
An Post offers 0% commission on foreign currency exchange. You can buy US dollars and British pounds at any An Post office. Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, and Polish zloty are available at selected locations.
You can buy up to €3,000 worth of currency in one transaction. Bring ID if you are exchanging €150 or more — this is required under Anti-Money Laundering legislation. You can pay by debit card or cash.
An Post also has its own Currency Card. It supports up to 15 currencies and can be managed through the An Post Money app.
Western Union Money Transfers
Most An Post offices offer Western Union international money transfers. This service is popular for sending money abroad. You can send funds to over 200 countries and territories. Rates and fees apply depending on destination and amount.
Mobile Top-Up and Leap Card
All major Irish networks are supported. These include Vodafone, Three, Eir, and Tesco Mobile. Top-up processing takes two to three minutes.
You can also top up your Leap Card for public transport at most branches. The Leap Card is accepted on Dublin Bus, DART, Luas, and regional bus services.
An Post Opening Hours — What to Expect
Opening hours vary by branch. Most post offices follow this general pattern:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00am to 5:30pm
- Tuesday: 9:30am to 5:30pm (common late opening)
- Saturday: 9:00am to 1:00pm
- Sunday: Closed
Larger city-centre offices like the GPO on O’Connell Street in Dublin may open until 6:00pm Monday to Saturday.
Always check your specific branch before visiting. Hours can vary by location and change on bank holidays. Use the store locator at anpost.com or call 01 705 7200 to confirm.
An Post in Rural Ireland — What You Should Know
Rural post offices are one of the most important community services in Ireland. Many small towns and villages rely on their local An Post for banking, welfare payments, and everyday errands. The closure of rural branches has been a significant political issue in recent years.
If your nearest full post office is far away, check for PostPoints. These are smaller outlets inside shops and newsagents that handle stamps, top-ups, and some bill payments.
For rural addresses, always include your Eircode when sending or receiving post. It makes a real difference, especially in areas where multiple townlands share similar names.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit
Go in the morning or early afternoon when possible. Peak hours at most branches are 9:00am to 11:00am and again around 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
Bring the right documents. For currency exchange you need ID. For passport applications you need photos and forms. For banking you need your account details. Coming prepared saves time for everyone.
Combine your errands. An Post handles post, banking, bills, and passports in one stop. Many people find they can handle four or five different tasks in a single visit.
If you need a service that your nearest PostPoint cannot provide, check for the next full post office using the locator on anpost.com. The difference in services between a PostPoint and a full An Post office is significant.
FAQs
How do I find my nearest An Post office in Ireland?
Go to anpost.com and use the Store Locator. Enter your address, town, or Eircode. It shows the nearest open branches with addresses, phone numbers, and services available.
What are typical An Post opening hours in Ireland?
Most branches open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm, with Saturday hours usually 9:00am to 1:00pm. Tuesday mornings often start at 9:30am. Sunday hours are closed. Check your specific branch as times vary.
Can I do my banking at An Post?
Yes. AIB and Bank of Ireland customers can lodge and withdraw cash at almost 900 An Post offices six days a week. An Post also offers its own current account through An Post Money, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Does An Post do passport applications?
Yes. Passport Express is available at most An Post offices. It is the only postal method accepted in Ireland for passport applications. Bring completed forms, two passport photos, and supporting ID documents.
Can I exchange foreign currency at An Post?
Yes, with 0% commission. US dollars and British pounds are available at every branch. Other currencies are available at selected locations. You can also apply for the An Post Currency Card, which supports up to 15 currencies.
What is a PostPoint and how is it different from an An Post office?
A PostPoint is a smaller outlet inside a newsagent or convenience store. It handles stamps, top-ups, and some bill payments. It cannot process passport applications, foreign exchange, or full banking services. For those, you need a full An Post branch.
What is the phone number for An Post?
Call 01 705 7200, open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm. For An Post Money queries, call 01 705 8000, open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Can I track a parcel sent through An Post?
Yes. Every registered item gets a 13-character tracking code. Go to anpost.com and click Track and Trace. Enter your code to get real-time updates. An Post tracking numbers typically start with letters like RR, RD, or EE and end with IE.
Is An Post open on Saturdays?
Most branches are open Saturday mornings, usually from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Some larger city-centre offices may stay open later. Always confirm with your local branch before visiting.
What services can I use at my local An Post?
Sending letters and parcels, Passport Express applications, AIB and Bank of Ireland banking, bill payments, TV licence, foreign currency exchange, Western Union transfers, mobile top-ups, Leap Card top-ups, gift vouchers, and An Post Money products including current accounts and loans.
