IFA meets with Bank of Ireland representatives on branch closures Reporter: '); A delegation from IFA met with Bank of Ireland head of retail banking, Gavin Kelly, today, March 4 to outline its views on the decision by the bank to close 88 branches around the country. IFA President Tim Cullinan said, “We made it clear to BOI that this decision has been very badly received in rural Ireland. We previously described it as a ‘slap in the face’ and that is how people in rural Ireland see it”. He said that in light of the recent withdrawal of Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland’s decision to close branches, it’s clear that rural Ireland is now more dependent than ever on the Post Office network.