The Sisters of St Louis are closing their 'motherhouse' convent in Monaghan after 166 years of ministry in the town.
The Congregation of the Sisters of St Louis was founded in France in 1844 by Fr Louis Bautain.
Sisters Genevieve Beale, Clemence McCarthy and Claire O'Sullivan arrived in Monaghan in 1859 from Juilly near Paris under the invite of the then Bishop of Clogher Charles McNally.
The order became involved in education and the local community while the sisters also spread out to form communities in other parts of the country.
However, anyone joining the order of nuns was required to first complete three years of training in Monaghan town, with the convent there becoming known as the 'motherhouse' as a result.
Following its closure, six sisters remain in the town - two in a nursing home and four others who live and work in the locality.
A series of events took place in the county today to mark the closure of the 'motherhouse'.
A mass of thanksgiving was said in St Macartan's Cathedral in Monaghan town.
Sister Uainin Clarke, Leader of the St Louis Sisters in Ireland, thanked past pupils, staff, friends and the people of Monaghan for their support and friendship over the years.
"Although today is a sad day, there is much to be thankful for," she said.
An exhibition titled 'The Story of the St Louis Sisters in Monaghan' will go on public display at Monaghan County Museum from Tuesday until 29 March.
An open day was also held at St Louis Secondary School to pay tribute to the Sisters of St Louis, who originally founded the school on Mill Street in 1859.
Monaghan County Council recently acquired the St Louis campus, which includes a number of already vacated buildings and lands.
The local authority’s Reimagining Monaghan project has developed "a heritage led regeneration plan" for the town and the St Louis Convent lands.
