More than 1,000 people gathered at the weekend to commemorate 156 years of education at a school which is to close because of a lack of funding.
Ard Scoil Mhuire secondary school in Bruff has been run by the Faithful Companions of Jesus order since 1856.
It is to shut at the end of the academic year because the trustees do not have sufficient funds to continue running the school.
In a special commemoration on Saturday, past pupils, parents and teachers celebrated the contribution of the nuns.
When the school closes, hundreds of pupils will be forced to seek out new schools to finish their education.
Businesses in Bruff in southeast Limerick say the closure will be a disaster for the area and that Bruff will become another casualty of the Celtic Tiger era.
“It’s a sad day but it’s a day for us to say ‘Thank you’ to everyone who has contributed to the education of our young people for so many years,” said school principal, Sr Geraldine Lennon.
A special Mass was held in the local parish church followed by a display of old and new film footage taken of life at the school.