Last group of students to pass through historic De La Salle

By Maurice Garvey 

THIS bittersweet image depicts a special group of boys who represent the last bunch of students to pass through historic De La Salle National School in Ballyfermot.

The last sixth class students of De La Salle 

De La Salle was the first school to open in Ballyfermot in 1952, with 380 students crammed into the building.

In recent years, numbers have fallen sharply, with the land sold by the De La Salle Brothers, and plans for De La Salle to amalgamate with St Gabriel’s, St Raphael’s and St Michael’s in 2014 deemed “not tenable” by the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Parents and teachers who protested the decision vigorously at the time, criticised the move for “starving De La Salle out of existence”.

Former students and teachers have good memories and bad of the school, but there can be no doubting it’s importance to the growth and development of Ballyfermot.

This week, The Echo and the school captured the famous green jerseys of the last two sixth classes at the school, in unison beside the statue of French priest and educational reformer St Jean-Baptiste de la Salle.

De La Salle NS released a statement to mark the occasion of the group picture and the class of 2018/2019.

“These very special boys follow in the footsteps of their fathers, uncles, grandfathers and thousands of Ballyfermot boys who spent their primary school days in De La Salle National Schools.

“We give thanks for the Brothers and teachers, who since 1952, have dedicated their time and care teaching these boys. We remember the music bands, the bingo, the successful sports teams and the weekly cinema in the school hall. We hope that this group of boys will have happy memories of their time here in this school.”

De La Salle pupils making their confirmation in 1958

Earlier in the year, past pupil Ken Larkin, from Ballyfermot Heritage Group, floated a proposal for former students to go on a walk down memory lane in the school grounds.

His idea generated a significant response online from past pupils, and he is due to have talks with the school at the end of this month surrounding the proposal.

A date has yet to be confirmed but Ken hopes this might take place sometime in February/March 2019.

De La Salle NS said past pupils who would like to rekindle their own memories, can contact the school at delasalleballyfermot@gmail.com