School visits commence with trip to St Helens

Our new Director of Formation, Pat Walsh, has begun to visit schools in the District with the aim of getting to all over the coming months.

Pat’s first school visit was to De La Salle School St Helens on September 28th where he met with Head teacher Andy Rannard and staff members, and was able to witness at first hand the wonderful spirit of respect and commitment that exists in the school.

On Wednesday October 4th, Pat followed that up by visiting both De La Salle College Churchtown and St Benildus College along with Auxiliary Visitor, Br Tommy Walsh. Once again they were treated to a very warm welcome and they experienced the strength of the Lasallian ethos in the schools.

Pat and Tommy are pictured with De La Salle Churchtown, students Phillippe, Tom, Rebecca and Emily who gave them a guided tour of the school, which included the impressive Lasallian displays in the canteen and the live the Lasallian way poster.

Pictured under the mural of St Benildus is Br Tommy, James Trimble (Deputy Principal) and Lisa Barnes (Deputy Principal)

On Thursday October 5th, Tommy and Pat were back on the road and this time they paid a visit to Ard Scoil La Salle Raheny, where they met Acting Principal Michelle Benson, teacher Breda Broderick and members of the school’s new Prayer Group.

Pat and Tommy continued their travels on Tuesday October 10th when they headed west for a visit to St Gerald’s College Castlebar, where they were welcomed by Principal Shaun Burke.

Students helped celebrate Br Tommy’s birthday with a cake and a special musical performance.

It was back on the road for the next stop with Pat Walsh and Br. Tommy calling to the primary and secondary schools in Dundalk. Below, Br Tommy is pictured with De La Salle College Dundalk deputy principal Paul Breen and also with Katriona and Bridie at St Nicholas Monastery NS.

The pair then headed north where all at De La Salle High School, Downpatrick, were delighted to welcome Pat Walsh, recently appointed Director of Formation for the La Salle District of Ireland, GB and Malta, along with Br. Thomas on Friday October 13th. During their visit, they met with the school’s new Student Animator group and presented them with their Student Animator Badges. 

During a meeting with the boys, Pat and Br Thomas were updated on some of the projects the group had been working on since September, which include a "Prayer to Help Us Prepare" composed by Year 8 student, Niall Smyth as well as plans for a Staff Appreciation Day that will take place this October.

While in Downpatrick, Br Tommy and Pat also visited St Patrick’s Grammar School where they were welcomed by Principal Joe McCann and had a chat with some of the students. Br Tommy is pictured below with one of the students.

Monday October 16th saw Pat given another very warm welcome when he called to see all at De La Salle College Macroom where he met Principal, John Murphy, and Animator, Liam Fleming.

He also caught up with art therapist James O’Donoghue, who was instrumental in creating the image below with the students.

It was a special occasion for Pat Walsh, on Thursday October 19th as he returned to his former school, De La Salle College Waterford for a visit where he met with deputy principals, Tom Bourke, Declan O’Brien, and Eileen Doolan. Pat was presented with a photo from his own year group and also given a tour of the school by students, George, Ed, Fionn, Darragh and Oisin.

Pat continued his school visits by calling to both St Declan's Primary School and St Stephen's Primary Schools.

While in St Declan’s, he met with Geraldine Brennan, assistant Principal, who showed him the outside classroom space. Pat is pictured with Paul Kirby, ethos co-ordinator in St Declan’s Waterford, with a plaque honouring the commitment of the De La Salle Brothers to the school.