St. Stephens
St Stephens Boys NS is the oldest school in Waterford City. In 1887, on the invitation of Dr. Phelan, the De La Salle Brothers came to Waterford to open a National School. The first Principal was Brother Patrick McSweeney. The members of the first staff were all under 20. Mr. George Nolan commenced the building of St. Stephen's Senior School in 1897 and it was completed by 1898. The total cost of the school was £5,885. In 1907, the Brothers purchased a derelict property from St. Stephen's Senior School north to Patrick Street. On this celebrated site was built the handsome Junior School and the De La Salle Brothers' Monastery - at a cost of £4,500 - and completed in 1908. The monastery still stands today, and is an iconic part of the skyline of the upper part of our city, just off Ballybricken. The current school is situated adjacent to Waterford’s old Norman Walls which were built by King John in 1215.
St Stephens celebrated its centenary in 1987, and continues was one of the last schools in Ireland to be run by the De La Salle Brothers. The final Brother in charge, Br. Martin, retired in June 2010, and leaves behind a lasting legacy of care for others, by setting example for everyone to follow, as indeed St. John Baptist De La Salle did when he founded the Brothers hundreds of years ago. Over 450 pupils currently attend the school, which although located in the Cathedral Parish continues to attract children from all over Waterford City as many students are following in the footseps of their fathers, grandfathers and even great grand fathers. The link between De La Salle GAA Club and St Stephen’s School go back to the foundation of the club. The club was founded in 1927 by a young brother in St Stephen’s. Brother John Murphy from Kildare. having been successful at school level saw a need to form a club to cater for the sporting and cultural needs of his past pupils.
The club was originally called St. Stephens, but was later changed to De La Salle to embrace all of the De La Salle schools in the city i.e. St. Stephen’s, St. Declan’s and De La Salle College.
Down through the years many brothers and teachers in the school contributed to the club either as players, coaches or administrators. Names of Brothers that spring to mind are Brother Baptist, Brother Anselm, Brother Virgilius.
This link between the club and St Stephens remains unbroken to the present day. The school has always been a nursery for De La Salle GAA Club. Past pupils of the club who went on to serve club and county with distinction are John Barron, Noel Dalton,Sonny Walsh,Davey Duggan, John Mullane and Jake Dillon, to name but a few.
The club helps organise hurling leagues in the yard after school with Peter Galvin and Brother Francis in charge while club coaches regularly takes the junior classes for coaching sessions. The current principal Mr Morris is a former footballer with the club and also manages the club’s under 21 Football Team.
St Stephens De La Salle Primary School
25 Patrick St, Waterford City
Telephone: 051-871716
e-mail: oifigstiofan@eircom.net
Web site: http://www.scoilstiofan.com/