A chronology of one of Dublin and Ireland's longest-established rugby clubs.
1899: Palmerston Football Club Founded in Ranelagh at the home of the Ferguson family.
1911: H Swan, R Exshaw & R Douglas are selected for Leinster for the first ever Junior Inter pro Vs Munster.
1919: The club enters the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time.
1924: The Club hosts the second All Blacks (The Invincible). (Note: Historic autographed photo on display in Kilternan).
1925: New grounds acquired at Clonskeagh. Pavilion opened by J.J.Coffey President of the IRFU, followed by a game against Lansdowne.
1934: D.M.Hudson becomes the Club’s first Leinster Senior Inter provincial.
1947: V.E. Kirwan elected President of the Leinster Branch
1952: V.E. Kirwan elected President of the IRFU.
1955: V.E. Kirwan elected Hon. Sec. of the International Rugby Football Board.
1956: Palmerston win their first ever Leinster Branch trophy (“The Moran Cup”).
1964: Mr Bob Fitzgerald appointed Secretary of the IRFU.
1965: De La Salle RFC founded in April.
1966: De La Salle RFC win their first Leinster Branch competition the Third A’s League
1968: Hugh Mc Cullough (De La Salle) is selected for the first ever Leinster u-19 team vs Cardiff.
1970: Palmerstons ground in Clonskeagh, become the first floodlit rugby pitch (or sports pitch) in the republic.
De la Salle RFC win the Spencer Cup for the first time.
1972: De La Salle Past Pupils RFC acquire grounds in Glenamuck
Palmerston FC become the first club in Leinster to start a Mini Rugby section
1973: Palmerston F.C. purchase a 16 acres site in Kilternan, Dublin 18.
1977: Barry O’Connor selected for the Irish B team.
1980: Palmerston F.C. play their first game in Kilternan on August 30th & the new clubhouse is
officially opened by the President of the IRFU Bobby Ganly.
1980: Barry O’Connor plays for Ireland in non cap winning test matches on the tour of South Africa.
1985: De La Salle RFC And Palmerston FC make history by becoming the first two Irish rugby clubs to merge and will be known as De La Salle Palmerston F.C.
1985: Dr Michael Foley is elected as the first President and Pat Mc Cabe is named as the Captain of
the first De La Salle Palmerston F.C Senior Team.
1985 September 1st, De La Salle Palmerston FC play the Wolfhounds in their first game.
1985: De La Salle Palmerston win their first Leinster Branch Competitions the J2 League &
the Guilfoyle cup at J8 level.
1990: Ciaran Shanley selected as the first Senior Inter Provincial to represent
De La Salle Palmerston when selected to play for Connacht Vs Munster.
Ronan Garvey, Thomas Leigh & Ultan Waldron were selected for Leinster (at u-19 Level)
& Collie Gleeson was also selected for Connacht at u-19.
1991: Des Fitzgerald becomes the first Full Irish International & is selected for Irish World Cup squad.
1992/93: De La Salle Palmerston qualify for Division 3 of the All Ireland League.
1995/96: De La Salle Palmerston qualify for Division 2 of the All Ireland League.
1998/99: De La Salle Palmerston promoted to Division 1 of the All Ireland League.
De La Salle Palmerston qualify for their first Leinster Senior Cup Final.
Simon Broughton selected for Leinster
1999: Declan O’Brien becomes the first De La Salle Palmerston to be awarded a full time playing contract
Mihai Vironeau plays for Romania
1999/2000: De La Salle Palmerston celebrate their Centenary year and retain their Division 1 status.
2001 J3 Team win a unique treble: the Moran Cup, the Stradbrook Cup and their league
2002 Damian, Ronan & Colm Mccabe make history as first 3 brothers to play together on a DLSP team
2007 J5 team win the O'Connor Cup
New Viewing balcony & extension of dressing-rooms are opened
2009 Jack Kirwan wins IRFU Hall of Fame award
2009 DLSP Members John Fogarty & CJ Van Der Linde win Heineken Cup in Edinburgh with Leinster
2009 October 10th, De La Salle Palmerstons home grounds are renamed Kirwan Park
2010 New match standard floodlights are installed on 1st & 2nd pitches at Kirwan Park
1st floodlit game takes place on February 26th in a J3 League game Vs Naas
2010 Kevin Fitzpatrick elected President of the Leinster Branch for 2010/11 season.
2010 J3's, J4's, U-16's & U-19's win their leagues in the Leinster Branch competitions
2010 23/10 Sean & Adam McDonagh become the first Father & Son to play in an Adult league game together Vs Terenure
2015 4ths, U-20's and U-18.5's win their leagues
2016 Winners of the Fox Cup for the 1sttime in clubs history
Ross O'Shaugnessy, Ronan Costelloe & Cian Glennon Selected to play for Leinster Juniors
2017 1st Xv win the Spencer Cup
Ronan Costelloe, Ian Burke Selected to play for Leinster Juniors
Thirds win Leinster Metro 7 League