De La Salle College
School Details
About
De La Salle College, Waterford is an all‑boys Catholic secondary school that describes itself as a learning community where every pupil is valued and prepared for a meaningful life. The college’s educational ethos is rooted in the Lasallian tradition of St John Baptist De La Salle, emphasising a human and Christian education that nurtures mature, responsible citizens who can contribute positively to both society and the Church. Teaching is delivered through a blend of traditional classroom instruction and modern digital tools, including a school‑wide Google Classroom platform that supports collaborative learning and access to resources beyond the classroom. The college offers a broad programme of academic and extracurricular activities. Pupils benefit from a structured timetable that incorporates regular mass on Sundays, a school calendar of events, and a noticeboard for timely information. A vibrant student life is evident through sports teams, coffee mornings, International Academy projects and various clubs that promote kindness, leadership and personal development. The school’s facilities are designed to support both academic achievement and holistic growth, fostering an environment where students can learn, listen and grow together.
History
The De La Salle Brothers first arrived in Waterford in 1887 when they were invited to take charge of a school in the city’s poorest district. The former Saint Stephen’s School, originally a boarding and day school, had been taken over by the Waterford Corporation and re‑opened as the High School of the Catholic University of Ireland before closing in 1886. On 8 October 1887 the Brothers commenced classes for boys aged eleven to thirteen in a three‑storey building on Bachelors Walk. Later that year the Brothers acquired the Newtown Scholasticate, a six‑acre site previously used by the order in Castletown, Co Laois. The property was purchased for £1,700 and expanded with a third storey to accommodate the growing community. In 1890 Brother Justin McMahon secured the support of Bishop John Egan to establish a Training College for teachers, which opened under the leadership of Brother Severus Harvey (later succeeded by Brother Thomas Kane). The new college building was blessed and opened on 16 July 1891 by Bishop Browning of Ossary, with Mass celebrated by Bishop Sheehan. Over the ensuing decades the college trained generations of teachers who went on to influence education throughout Ireland. In 1932 the Minister for Education, Professor O’Sullivan, approved the establishment of a new school for boys within the unused portions of the Waterford Model School premises, further expanding the college’s role in the community.