Mr Paddy Flynn, a father of three from Ballina, said he was devastated by the news that the plant which employed him as an electrician for 11 years was to close.
"I am near retirement; in my mid-50s. My chances of getting another job are pretty slim. So what am I looking at except a long retirement?"
Father-of-four Mr Tommy Connaughton (42), from Enniscrone, had been with the plant for six years. He described the closure as a big loss.
"All 170 of us have to go and look for a new job. Where we are going to get it we don't know. This was a good place to work. Everyone was happy here and we had plenty of fun together socially."
Ms Valerie O'Malley (25), from Killala, had spent five years with the plant, graduating from floor level up to team leader. She is engaged to be married in six months and a new house is being built.
"I had achieved the position I wanted of team leader and I thought it was going to be my job for life. "The company was the only good prospect around Ballina. I don't think anyone expected it to go."
She added that there were no job vacancies in Ballina which could compare with the level of wages paid at Henniges. Mr Gerry Moore, a supervisor, who had to announce the closure to workers on the morning shift, said it was a very, very black day for Ballina.
"I would say there are a lot of people still in shock. It probably won't sink in for some time. I would like to think there are jobs out there for them but north Mayo has always been a black spot. The workers here have done everything they were required to do and this is how they are being repaid."
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday commended the constructive work of the North Mayo Enterprise Initiative, the body she established following the closure of Asahi.
The Tanaiste said "given the vast knowledge gained by the group of the area, I have now asked them to examine the implications of the Henniges closure and include their findings in the final report which they are now preparing".