St Stephen's De La Salle
Waterford
Key facts
- DEIS
- Boys
- Pupils enrolled
- 363 larger than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 15046I the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
St. Stephen’s De La Salle BNS is an all‑boys primary school in Waterford City, founded in the late 1800s by the De La Salle Brothers. The school combines a strong Catholic ethos with a forward‑looking educational approach, placing particular emphasis on daily prayer, the sacraments and a vibrant spiritual life. Academic achievement is supported by a robust programme of religious instruction, regular class masses, and special ceremonies such as First Holy Communion, Confirmation and the annual feast day of the Founder, Saint John Baptist De La Salle. The school is recognised as Waterford’s only Digital School of Distinction and benefits from high‑speed broadband supplied under the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme. A 2021 grant has enabled the introduction of 21st‑century learning technologies to bridge the digital divide for pupils at risk of educational disadvantage. Extracurricular provision is extensive, with successful teams in soccer, basketball, hurling, Gaelic football, as well as chess and debating clubs. The campus incorporates historic features – a section of the medieval city walls, an intact tower, a garden and fishpond, and the original De La Salle monastery – providing a unique blend of heritage and modern learning environments.
History
St. Stephen’s De La Salle opened its doors in 1887 after an invitation from Dr Phelan, when the De La Salle Brothers established a National School under the leadership of Brother Patrick McSweeney. Construction of the senior school began in 1897 and was completed in 1898 at a cost of £5,885. A year later the Brothers acquired a derelict site north of Patrick Street, where the junior school and monastery were built, finished in 1908 for £4,500. The school celebrated its centenary in 1987 and remained one of the last Irish schools directly run by the De La Salle Brothers until the final Brother, Br Martin, retired in June 2010. Strong links with the De La Salle GAA Club, founded in 1927 by Brother John Murphy, continue to enrich the school’s sporting tradition.
Applying to St Stephen's De La Salle
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Stephen's De La Salle. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about St Stephen's De La Salle
How many pupils attend St Stephen's De La Salle?
St Stephen's De La Salle has 363 pupils enrolled. That makes it larger than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Stephen's De La Salle a DEIS school?
Yes. St Stephen's De La Salle is part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme called Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools. DEIS schools serve communities at risk of educational disadvantage and receive additional supports, which can include smaller classes, extra teaching posts and funding for books and meals.
What is the ethos of St Stephen's De La Salle?
St Stephen's De La Salle has a Catholic ethos. It is a boys' primary school.