The last employees finished work at the Asahi plant at Killala, Co Mayo, last evening. More than 300 workers have lost their jobs as a result of the factory's closure.
The last 125 finished yesterday in the spinning section as the ailing synthetic fibre operation wound down.
Mr Tommy Ginley, chairman of the shop stewards at Asahi, said it was a sad and difficult day to see the last of the workers leave. "But we have to look to the future, get over this difficult weekend and move on."
Mr Ginley said they were hopeful that a Government announcement about replacement jobs in north Mayo and on the vacant Asahi site would be made.
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"We are optimistic our workers will be back at work again, some of them having worked at Asahi for over 20 years."