What are SOAR ? 

They are the Irish version of what most stamp collectors call ATM labels, or Post & Go labels in the UK. First issued in Ireland in 2008, they are now well established and are the norm for everyday use ~ basically replacing the old gummed definitive stamps. As with all stamp collecting, they provide an endless source of information and enjoyment for collectors. In my opinion, trying to amass a full collection of Irish SOAR issues would prove extremely difficult, because every post office in Ireland can print the stamps and each post office has a unique identification number. In addition to this, there are approx 40 postal service machines throughout the country ~ 20 in Dublin and 20 around the country. The post office has also given authority to certain private companies to issue theses stamps as they need them ~ a different font is used as I will explain later.

​So what's different about them from ordinary gummed definitives ?

The main difference is that one blank stamp can be printed with any value. Thus, the same stamp can be used for National, International, Packet, Parcel or larger rate as required.

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The first stamps were issued from Postal Service Centres. These are Wincor

Nixdorf machines which allow the user to buy stamps and weigh heavier items

and have postage printed on site. Two machines were trialled on 21st July 2008.

One was installed in the GPO Philatelic Bureau and the other in Dublin Airport. 

They offer 4 preset values ~ 55c, 82c, 95c and €1.50. These first stamps were

​a set of 4 self adhesive labels based on Irish inland waterways, similar to the 

gummed set from October 2006. The printed stamp shows the value, with the 

date and machine location number underneath. The date is printed using a 

letter for the year; beginning with A for 2008. This is followed by a 3 digit

number denoting the particular day of year i.e. 001 marking 1st of January etc.

They have been rolled out since then to approx 35 locations nationwide, mainly

in busy shopping areas to maximise sales. The stamps are printed on rolls of 600. The Waterways set are now discontinued and most machines are now dispensing the Animal & Marine series Phase 3. (see gallery) Below is current list of locations and machine numbers.

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Machinenumber	Postal Service Centre location	Go-livedate

9801                         GPO O'Connell Street, Dublin                                      21.7.2008

9802                         Dublin Airport Terminal 1                                            6.10.2008

9803                         Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, Dublin                    4.11.2008

9804                         Square Shopping Centre,Tallaght, Dublin                    17.10.2008 (Removed)

9805                         Tesco Merrion, Dublin 4                                             22.10.2008

9806                         Tesco Greystones Co. Wicklow                                  17.11.2008

9807                         Supervalu, Ballincollig, Cork                                        April 2012

9808                         University College Cork                                               2.7.2009 (Removed)

9808                         Cardiff Lane Sorting Office Dublin                               2 April 2013

9809                         Dunnes Stores Cornelscourt, Dublin                            29.7.2009 (Removed)

9809                         Applegreen Service Station, Naas Rd Dublin                12 November 2011

9810                         Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Dublin                      29.7.2009

9811                         Waterford IT, Waterford                                             30.07.2009

9812                         Scotch Hall Shopping Centre, Drogheda                       4.08.2009

9813                         Marshes Shopping Centre, Dundalk Co. Louth              4.08.2009

9814                         Centra Temple Bar, Dublin                                          14.09.2009

9815                         Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas                         11.08.2009

9816                         James' Hospital, Dublin 8                                            13.08.2009

9817                         Ebay - Atrium Building, Blanchardstown,                      6.08.2009 (Not available to public)

9818                         Tesco Shopping Centre, O'Connell St. Sligo                19.08.2009

9819                         Tesco Shopping Centre, Ennis, Co Clare                    19.08.2009 (Removed)

9819                         Intel, Leixlip Co. Kildare                                              February 2013 (Not available to public)

9820                         Pavilions Shopping Centre, County Dublin                    9.09.2009

9821                         St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin               26.10.2009

9822                         Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin 9822                          10.12.2009 (Removed)

9822                         Trinity College, Arts Block, Dublin 2                             November 2011

9823                         Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin                         17.12.2009

9824                         Mahon Point Shopping Centre, Mahon                       10.03.2010

9825                         Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Co, Carlow                     17.05.2010 (Removed)

9825                         Dublin Airport Terminal 2                                            October 2011

9826                         Arthurs Quay Shopping Centre, Limerick                    18.02.2010 (Removed)

9826                         City Quay Shopping Centre, Waterford                       December 2011

9827                         City Square Shopping Centre, Waterford                    2.02.2010 (Removed)

9827                         MacDonagh Junction Shopping Ctr, Co, Kilkenny        April 2012

9828                         Arthurs Quay Shopping Ctr, Limerick                         July 2012

9829                         Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow                            November 2011

9829                         Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Galway                       11.03.2010 (Removed)

9830                         Supervalu Middleton, Co. Cork                                   24.02.2010

9831                         Munchies Cafe, Eastpoint Business Park, Dublin         15.04.2010

9832                         Bridgewater Arklow, County Wicklow                           8.04.2010

9833                         Manor West Tralee, County Kerry                               22.04.2010

9834                         Swords PO, Pavillions, Swords Co Dublin                    November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Almost 2 years to the day, An Post finally began to roll out the full SOAR network in local post offices throughout the country. These would be printed at the post office counter using Epson thermal printers. On 22nd July 2010, 4 interim labels were issued  before the Animal & Marine series commenced in September 2010. They used 4 designs from the Wildflowers gummed series (see gallery). 

 

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