Glenstal Abbey School in Murroe, County Limerick, will wind down over two years and close no later than August 2028, its trustees announced on Friday, 23 October.

The trustees’ statement on the school website says parents, students and staff were informed that day. It attributes the decision to declining demand for boarding education and the rising cost of operating a small boarding school. The Irish Examiner also reported the announcement on Friday evening.

What the transition statement says

All students are to continue their education as normal for the current academic year, ending in June 2027. For 2027/28, the trustees state an intention to allow pupils currently in second and fifth year to complete their Junior and Senior Cycles.

Those are different stages of the transition: the statement promises normal provision through this academic year and describes a specific intention for those two year groups afterwards.

The Abbey says its monastic life and work will continue. Families seeking their own transition arrangements can use the school’s direct contact page; reception is listed at 061 621010.

The file photograph by JohnArmagh, released into the public domain, shows the Abbey house in May 2010.