Cashel is set to lose 125 jobs as Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals announces its plans to close its facility in the town.

The plant is due to cease operations on April 28th and will fully close in May.

Workers had been told in September 2015 that the facility would either be sold or "divested".

Sun Pharmaceuticals, the fifth largest company of its kind in the world, owns Ranbaxy. It had purchased the Cashel plant in early 2015.

The plant has operated at the Cork Road site for over three decades.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath spoke of the economic loss the area:

"I was devastated to hear of this enormous blow to the workers hopes; a blow that will certainly extend to the broader local economy in Cashel.

"I had been in touch with the facility’s management in an effort to extend all possible mediation services.

I had also raised the matter with Minister Richard Bruton and have this morning again notified of him of the scale of the economic loss this represents for Cashel and Tipperary".

County Tipperary Chamber President Mark Small said:

"Sun Pharma has been a consistent employer in the local economy for many years and we at the County Tipperary Chamber are disappointed with today’s announcement.

"We are now working with the management of the company and our County Tipperary Skillnet training division to identify upskilling opportunities to ensure that those faced with losing their jobs at Sun Pharma have the best possible chance to secure a new role as soon as possible.

"We will also be working with the relevant agencies, as we have done before, to seek a replacement business for the Cork Road plant".

There are potential opportunities for staff at Cashel's new IDA company Amneal. The US drugs manufacturer purchased a former Johnson & Johnson plant in the town in Summer 2015.