For Ms Bernadette Carney, yesterday's early morning meeting when Aventis Pharma workers were told the plant would close in three months was a case of having heard it all before.

A mother of three, she worked in the Offray ribbon-manufacturing plant in Roscrea before it closed three years ago.

After being made redundant she had commuted the 20 miles to Nenagh, often leaving home at 3 a.m. to begin a 12-hour shift.

"I am devastated. I spent 15 years in Offray and we were really looked after there. They said they would look after us here, but sure I have only three years behind me. I do not know what my future will be."

Her colleague, Ms Loretta Collins, a SIPTU representative, has worked in the plant for 19 years. Only three other workers had been there longer. Ms Collins had been expecting the worst since Christmas. Now, she was looking forward to "a well-earned rest".

"It is a pity. At the end of the day we are being penalised for being good at our job. We were the second best plant in Europe."

Workers in general were disillusioned at losing their jobs when the plant was profit-making. They will not return to work until Tuesday to allow them "to get over the shock of it", as one worker put it.

Beyond July when the plant closes, the younger workers with no commitments felt they had more options. Mr Peter O'Connor, the health and safety representative, said he was single and had no mortgage.

"When they said there was a chance of it closing, I said there was no point in going and losing out on the redundancy package. It is money I could never save. From a selfish point of view, it was ideal for me.

Mr Noel Ryan said nobody knew what the criteria were for closure. He was considering emigration. "It is a relief now. Not knowing was the worst thing." Ms Sylvia Bonner was considering commuting to Limerick. "It is a case of looking around and seeing what is available."

"Everybody is going to have to commute now," Ms Olivia Creamer added.

Opposition politicians called for a comprehensive response to the latest closure. The Independent TD, Mr Michael Lowry, said north Tipperary was being singled out as a black spot.

Labour Party Senator Kathleen O'Meara said a united front to work on a clear jobs replacement strategy was required.