Club Milestones
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 Interpro V Munster.
1919: The club enters the Leinster Senior Cup for the first time.
1924: The Club hosts the second All Blacks (The Invincibles). (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.
Palmerston (affectionately known as 'Palmo) move to Clonskeagh
1934: D.M.Hudson becomes the Club’s first Leinster Senior Interprovincial.
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 V Cardiff.
1970: Palmerston's ground in Clonskeagh, becomes 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-acre site in Kilternan, Dublin 18.
1973: 'Palmo start Leinsters first Mini Rugby section
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.
1983: 'Palmo Become 1st Irish team to play London Irish Mini Festival
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 McCabe 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 and 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 V Munster.
Ronan Garvey, Thomas Leigh & Ultan Waldron were selected for Leinster (at U-19 Level) and 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.
1997: Malcolm O'Kelly becomes the first player to have started in our Minis to play Senior for Ireland
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 player 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 Palmerston's 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 V 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: Sean & Adam McDonagh become the first father & son to play in an adult league game together Vs Terenure.
2012: Salmo Awarded IRFU Club Excellence Standard
The DLSP Eagles team is formed to cater for players with special needs and different abilities.
2013: Salmo Mini Youth sections celebrates 40th Anniversary
2015: 4ths, U-20's and U-18.5's win their leagues.
2016: Winners of the Fox Cup for the 1st time in club's history.
Ross O'Shaugnessy, Ronan Costelloe & Cian Glennon selected to play for Leinster Juniors
Elise O'Byrne White becomes first Irish Womens Player to have started her career at our Mini rugby Section
2017: 1st XV win the Spencer Cup.
Ronan Costelloe and Ian Burke selected to play for Leinster Juniors.
Third XV wins Leinster Metro 7 League.
2018: Salmo Vikings Mixed ability team is formed.
2020: U20s win the JP Fanagan Premier 3 League going 13 games unbeaten.
2023: The Firsts secure the Leinster League 2A title with 3 games to spare.
Our Metro side win the O'Connor Cup
2024: The U16s win the Leinster Boys Schools-Youth Division 1 League
Lisa McGovern is recipient of an IRFU Volunteer Recognition Award