One of the State's oldest boarding schools is to close its doors to boarders this week because of a significant drop in numbers over the past decade.
St Kieran's College in Kilkenny, famous for producing a number of top hurlers, said in a statement it will close its boarding school from Friday June 4th.
"The number of applicants to the boarding school has dropped significantly over the past ten years despite a sustained advertising campaign to attract students to the college. Accordingly it is no longer feasible to maintain a boarding school at the college."
When the college first opened in 1782, it was in response to the educational needs of the time.
"For many years of its history the boarding school was the only means of providing an academic, spiritual and personal formation for the majority of students in the diocese. Past students of the boarding school are to be found in all walks of life in Ireland and beyond," the statement continued.
"Education involves change and this includes change for academic institutions. The greater need today is for the day school. The boarding school, while it offered a first class education and formation to pupils, is not seen nowadays as the preferred option for education for the greater majority of young people.
"The Trustees have decided, in response to current needs, that available resources and personnel should be invested in the St. Kieran's Day School which is flourishing."
To mark the closure, the college has invited past pupils to visit the school on Saturday June 26th for a reception followed by a Mass of Thanksgiving. It will be celebrated by the Patron of the College, Most Reverend Laurence Forristal, Bishop of Ossory.