An Post Postboxes

Our postboxes are the heart of a neighbourhood, and the perfect way to send love to someone special. Bringing someone joy is just one postbox away, so why not send love now.

Send Love

Hephee and An Post

As part of our 'Love your postbox' series we teamed up with Irish artist Stephen Heffernan, better known as Hephee. His witty illustrations are famous for their ability to perfectly convey life in Ireland. We asked Hephee to create a design for postboxes - the pillars of our communities. Hephee's design illustrates how postboxes everywhere are bursting with love. In his unique style, Hephee encapsulates all the 'Irishisms' that people use when sending cards. We sat down with him to talk about his design process, what he misses from Ireland and much more!

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Meet Patsy the Postbox

Patsy was created by Irish artist Daniel Mooney, a.k.a. Mundo Moo. In 2021 Daniel launched his first range of illustration products for sale online. Daniel has been sending his orders all over Ireland, with the help of his hardest working employee Patsy, and An Post ever since.

Learn more about Patsy

An Post pillarbox which showcases the illustrated artwork of Patsy the Postbox

The Future of Postboxes

Have you ever wondered what the future holds for sending love from your postbox? Check out what a new generation of love senders had to say about their ideas on the future of sending with An Post postboxes.

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The Journey of a letter

Every day people send letters and cards to loved ones across Ireland. An Post delivers mail to 2.3 million addresses every working day! Watch this video to learn more about the journey a letter takes, from sending to delivery.

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Types of Postboxes

Pillar Boxes

Pillar postboxes are the traditional, cylindrical postboxes that most are familiar with. Early pillar boxes, called Penfold, were hexagonal. After complaints that letters would often get stuck, the more common cylindrical shape was adopted. There are still a few Penfold postboxes left, including one in New Ross and Skibbereen

Wall Boxes

As pillar boxes were expensive, some locations opted for the more cost-effective wall postbox. As the name suggests, these are postboxes that were often set into a city wall. As wall boxes could be made in different sizes, it was usually up to the local postmaster to decide which size best suited the area.

Lamp Boxes

Similar to wall postboxes, lamp boxes are more cost-efficient to make and install than a pillar box. They are generally a rectangular post box attached to a wooden post and are most often seen in more rural areas where it was not as easy to find a suitable wall for a wall box.

Pedestal Boxes

Over time, it became clear that the older styles of postboxes couldn’t handle the growing demands of the postal system as large items would get stuck causing blockages. To fix this, the pedestal box was created. A large box mounted on a pole, made of sheet steel and with a larger opening.

Ireland's oldest Postbox

This is the longest serving postbox in Ireland! It’s over 160 years old and remains in service today in Kent Station, Co. Cork. Watch this video to learn more about it's history.

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Steeped in history

A staple of the Irish community since the late 19th century, the An Post green postboxes can be found all over the country in different shapes and sizes. The older lamp boxes are a great way to keep with the valued tradition of sending letters to loved ones. You might be lucky enough to have a rare Penfold hexagonal letter box near you, making it even more special to send love to those dear to you.

Photo by Stephen Ferguson.

Sending Love is easier than ever

Maybe someone you know has recently become engaged or married. Perhaps they’ve got a new job or bought a new home. Sending them a handwritten card or heartfelt note through your local letter box is the perfect way to keep connected and let them know you’re thinking of them. Bringing someone joy is just one postbox away, so why not send love now.

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Postal operative holding a send love postcard standing in front of a postbox

Welcome to your An Post account

An Post Postboxes

Hephee and An Post

Meet Patsy the Postbox

The Future of Postboxes

The Journey of a letter

Types of Postboxes

Pillar Boxes

Wall Boxes

Lamp Boxes

Pedestal Boxes

Ireland's oldest Postbox

Steeped in history

Sending Love is easier than ever

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