Representatives of 100 staff of a Galway engineering firm have expressed dismay over the short notice given of the plant's closure on Monday.

Micromotors Groschopp employees were informed during a crisis meeting on Monday afternoon that the plant was going into liquidation within hours.

Management at the German owned company, which has been in Galway since 1969, decided to close the Mervue plant after losing market share to competition from the Far East. The Galway employees were involved in the manufacture of fractional horsepower electric motors.

"This is a sad day for all of us and we have fought for the past year to keep the plant open," said managing director Mr Donal Bell.

A SIPTU spokeswoman, Ms Diane Jackson said workers were extremely disappointed by the short notice given by management, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.