Local secondary schools recognise the significance of the shocking, planned closure
AFTER the shock announcement made by Glenstal Abbey on October 23, various Limerick secondary schools have spoken out in support.
Villiers Secondary School on the North Circular Road, Limerick, released a statement in support on their website.
“Villiers School is deeply saddened to hear of the planned closure of Glenstal Abbey School. As fellow members of the Limerick education community and neighbours, we recognise the significance of this news for Glenstal’s students, their families, staff and the wider school community.”
The statement shared the long-standing relationship between the two schools, highlighting their shared history with the Barrington family, whose lands and buildings linked the two institutions.
“Glenstal has been an important part of education in Limerick for many years, and we are very sorry to hear that its community is facing such an uncertain time,” said Villiers in their statement.
St. Munchin’s College on the Corbally Road, Limerick also spoke out in solidarity on their Instagram page.
“It is with genuine sadness that we acknowledge the announcement of the closure of Glenstal Abbey School.
“From all of us in St. Munchin’s College, we extend our heartfelt thoughts to the entire Glenstal community, its students past pupils, parents, teachers, staff, and the Benedictine community, as you come to terms with this sad and undoubtedly difficult change,” the statement reads.
The closure of Glenstal Abbey will take place no later than August 2028, as they explained the “difficult decision to wind down” the school’s operations.
In the statement released by Glenstal Abbey, they said, “This decision has not been made suddenly, nor has it been made lightly. The Abbey has wrestled with the future of the school for many years.
“However, the environment in which Glenstal Abbey School operates has changed significantly.”
The school has been running their operation since 1932, providing secondary school education for 94 years for boys aged 12 to 18 in Limerick.