An Post Schoolbag

In the past, the condition of roads varied a lot but even on a good road, travel by mail coach could be slow and sometimes dangerous. Ireland had its fair share of Highwaymen who robbed postmen and mail coaches and sometimes the mail had to be protected by armed guard. Items such as money, post bills and bank notes made robbing the post attractive to people who were poor and desparate. When railways came, the mail coach was gradually replaced throughout the country.

As an island Ireland relied on mail boats and steam ships to move mails and goods between countries. The ships on the Irish Sea were some of the fastest in the world. A lot of mail passed through Queenstown, now Cobh, in County Cork on its way to North America.