The number of boarding schools in the State is steadily declining - the number dropped by 34 per cent from 94 to 62 between 1988 and 1998.
Department of Education figures also show 3,556 fewer boarders at second-level schools in the Republic compared with 10 years ago.
The latest school to announce its intention to phase out boarders is St Mel's College in Longford. It follows a similar announcement by Blackrock College in Dublin last November.
The president and principal of St Mel's, Father Frank Garvey, said there had been a national decline in the demand for boarding schools. "Four years ago we had 144 boarders, this year we have only 90, so there are serious economic implications for such a decline in numbers," he said.
"There was a time also when parents made a decision, which they regarded as positive, to send their children to boarding school . . . more and more children are making that decision themselves and they are deciding not to go." The diocesan college was founded in 1865 and is run by priests attached to the diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. It has generally attracted boarders from Longford, Leitrim, Westmeath, Cavan and Roscommon and lists among its past pupils Mr Liam Mulvihill, director general of the GAA; former Tanaiste Mr John Wilson; showjumper Mr Eddie Macken; and former athlete Mr Ray Flynn.
The school has an enrolment of more than 700 and will not take first-year boarders in September. All other years will continue to have boarders, allowing boarding to be phased out over a number of years.
"As far as St Mel's is concerned, it's certainly the end of a great era. We don't differentiate between one set of students and another, but boarders in a school give the place a sense of life and vibrancy," Father Garvey said.
The school has been synonymous with Gaelic football at college level over the years, having won 28 senior Leinster titles and four All-Ireland colleges titles.
"Many of our famous footballers in the past would have been boarders," Father Garvey said. "It was a twofold thing. They got the opportunity to play at the highest level and win honours for themselves and their school, opportunities they may not have otherwise had, coming from counties like Leitrim and Longford."