The future of the College had been in doubt for a number of years after it was earmarked for closure by the Higher Education Authority.
However the new link up with Mary Immaculate College and the Limerick Centre of Excellence has secured the 3rd level institutions future.
President of St Patrick's Fr Tom Fogarty says the facility is the equivalent of a number of small industries to the area and its closure would have been a huge blow to Thurles.
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