A five-figure sum made up of cash, savings stamps and postage stamps is understood to have been stolen in a break-in at a sub-post office in Newcastle in Galway city.
The robbery was discovered yesterday. The thieves made off with one safe from the premises and are understood to have gained access to keys to open another safe in the building.
They are thought to have entered the building through a rear window during the weekend when the sub-post office was closed.
The post office will now remain closed for the next two days as gardaí and officials from An Post continue their investigations into the break-in.
The break-in was discovered at 8.40 a.m. yesterday.
A spokesman for An Post could not confirm the amount of cash taken and said it would be some time before they had full details.
An Post say that social welfare payments which would usually be collected at the Newcastle sub-post office will now to be collected at the sub-post office on nearby Seamus Quirke Road until the branch reopens on Thursday.