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
Former MY player James Culhane makes his senior debut for Leinster
2024: The U16s win the Leinster Boys Schools-Youth Division 1 League
Lisa McGovern is recipient of an IRFU Volunteer Recognition Award
2025: First XV win the O'Connell Cup
Leah Nealon selected for Ireland U18 Women's 6N squad and makes her debut v Wales
DLSP Vikings participate in the IMART World Cup in Pamplona
U17s are Leinster Boys Schools-Youth Division 1 League Winners
125th anniversary of the club is celebrated with a match against Malone RFC
Former MY player James Culhane named in Ireland 'A' squad to play England
John Fogarty named on the coaching ticket for the Lions tour of Australia
2026: Second XV win the Byrne Cup
De La Mary's U16 Girls win the U16s Girls Leinster League.
U16 Boys won the Plate Final with a 29-17 win over Greystones as part of the LD Barbarians
Kirwan Park hosts the Leinster Juniors Interpro fixture against Munster with John McDonald and Theo Hovenden-Kelly from the 1XV in the squad.
Ronan Greany was selected as Head Coach for the Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational Club (MARIs) who played against Diabolocos in March