Celestica workers are torn bewteen shock and despair at the closure of the Swords facility

The shutters are not expected to close on Celestica for another three months at least but the Swords, Co Dublin factory already had a haunted air last night.

Workers arriving for the graveyard shift seemed torn between resignation and despair. Rumours that the factory's demise was imminent had circulated for weeks.

For some, confirmation yesterday brought relief. Others were on the verge of shock. Did they have a future in Swords - or even Ireland - they wondered?

"I've worked here four and a half years. I don't know if I'll get another job in the town," said Ms Nuala McCarthy

"Nobody's really surprised. It's been very, very quiet in here recently. We were waiting to see if any new contracts would come. It was very nerve-racking. Now we've got our answer, I suppose. We'll have to see if there are any other jobs going around here. "

A colleague who didn't wish to be named was, if possible, even more pessimistic.

"There's no work in Swords now. I don't think I'll find anything else in the town. I've got a mortgage and a family. We can't just leave and go somewhere else. We're stuck here. I'm not very hopeful. Celestica was a good employer. We all enjoyed working here. After the last lay-offs we felt they were running a tight ship, that maybe our jobs would be safe."

Stuart Butler, who commutes to Swords from his central Dublin flat, tried to be upbeat. "It's no surprise.The writing has been on the wall for a while now. We weren't landing new contracts. The work was drying up," he said.

"We were told it might hinge on a few contracts coming through. There was a lot of suspense in the last week or so. Nothing had been said officially but I think most of us knew it was make or break time. "

One employee, at least, regards the closure as a fresh opportunity. With the high-tech industry in the throes of a recession, it was inevitable that companies such as Celestica would "feel some pain", said the worker, who asked to remain anonymous. Besides, why should he care?

"I'm getting out of here. I'm off to Australia. Am I upset? Not really. It's just another job. People say the economy is in a bad state and all. But I think we'll bounce back. It might take a few years - in the mean time I'm going to enjoy the sunshine."