Government accused of remaining shamefully silent about this "whittling away" of rural services.
The Rural Independent Group says the closure of 88 Bank of Ireland branches is a significant blow to the country.
4 branches in Kildare are among those that have shut: Celbridge, Leixlip, Kilcullen and Monasterevin.
The RIG describing at as a 'whittling away' of rural services.
Cliona 'Dwyer reports:
"Leader of the Rural Independent Group, Deputy Mattie McGrath says the country's town centres from Cashel to Dunmanway will be further hollowed as fewer people travel to towns with no bank branch.
He's describing the 88 Bank of Ireland branch closures as a devastating blow to rural communities.
He's accusing the government, who hold a 12 per cent stake in the bank, of remaining shamefully silent about this whittling away of rural services.
He says today, bank branches serving communities for over a century are now closed which will have a particularly dramatic impact on rural communities and towns nationwide.
He says the government, which pumped almost 30 billion euro of taxpayers’ money into Ireland’s three largest banks during the financial crisis including Bank of Ireland - has completely failed its duty of care to taxpayers and protection of customers’ rights and access to banking services."

Serious Crash Closes Milltown Bridge
Locals Urged To Make Their Votes Count In Tomorrow's Presidential Election
New Report Finds Just Two Homes Available Under HAP In Kildare
HGVs, Empty Shops And Missed Links: Castledermot’s Town Plan Open To Public For Third Consultation
Land Owner To Decide If Details Will Be Released On Hundreds Of Skeletons Found In Naas
Kildare Public Can Now Donate To Oxfam Through Free Doorstep Donation Scheme
€10 Million Settlement For Celbridge Man With Cerebral Palsy In National Maternity Hospital Case
Clicks And Cash: Kildare TD Mark Wall Among Top Social Media Spenders During Last General Election