THE DE LA SALLE HALL A STREET ART STORY
THE DE LA SALLE HALL A STREET ART STORY [PHOTOGRAPHED 2016]
I must admit that I was surprised to discover that I have not visited Waterford since 2021 especially as I was convinced that I had visited late in 2023.
I am trying to produce a comprehensive record, with photographs, of my visits and while the plan was to visit the city once every year every thing changed because of Covid-19 and I had no option but to cancel a number of visits. While I thought that I had visited in 2023 this was not the case as my mother who was 103 years of age, at the time, was unwell so I had to cancel my October 2023 visit a few days before I was due to travel. The hotel would not allow me to reschedule for March 2024 and as I had difficulty finding suitable accommodation Waterford did not remain on my schedule for that year. This year, 2025, I have booked the Granville and it was a wonderful experience
As already mentioned, I thought that I had visited Waterford in 2023 but when I checked the records I discovered that cancelled the October trip and did not visit in 2024. I stayed at the Portree in August 2021. I also stayed at the Portree in August 2019. I stayed in the Fitzwilton in July 2018 and in August 2017. I had a room in May 2016 at the Waterford Marina Hotel. While I cannot find any records I know that I stayed at the Waterford Marina Hotel in 2015 or 2014. At this stage I cannot find any photographs of Waterford that pre-date my 2016 visit but I will continue my search.
Back in 2016, a trip to Waterford was an exciting mission to find and photograph street art. The city was full of 'Waterford Walls' signs, and it felt like something was about to change. At the time, I was a little disappointed by how little art I could find. However, the highlight of that trip was discovering the De La Salle Hall, a beautiful, old building with a striking mural. From then on, every time I visited the city, I made sure to check on the hall and its artwork.
Imagine my disappointment in August 2025 when I arrived to find the wall completely painted over. I was later told by a walking tour guide that fire damage was to blame, but I've since discovered that this wasn't the full story. The removal of the mural was not an act of neglect or the result of a sudden fire. Instead, it was a slow, deliberate process of legal change and urban renewal.
The Hall's History: A Century of Change
The story of the De La Salle Hall is deeply tied to Waterford's history. It was built in 1891 as a training college for primary school teachers, a place that shaped thousands of educators. After the government rationalised the education system in 1939, it closed as a national college. It then served as a private school until it was eventually abandoned.
For decades, the building stood unused, a prominent part of the streetscape, yet increasingly neglected. Its journey from a private, religious-run institution to a derelict site, and finally to a state-controlled asset, mirrors a broader shift in public life. The building’s decline and eventual designation as a "derelict site" set the stage for its final transformation.
The Art and Its Impermanence
The De La Salle Hall became a canvas during the very first Waterford Walls festival in August 2015. This festival was an immediate success, transforming the city with murals created by talented artists from around the world. The mural on the De La Salle Hall, created by Irish artist Eoin O'Connor, quickly became a favourite. The art breathed new life into the neglected building, perfectly fulfilling the festival’s mission to regenerate urban spaces.
The public's emotional connection to the art was a testament to its success, yet street art is often temporary by nature. While it's a permanent feature of a wall, it can be painted over at the owner's discretion. The De La Salle Hall mural was a beautiful, but temporary, chapter in the building's long story.
The Truth Behind the Removal
The idea that the mural was removed due to fire damage is a contradiction to the facts. While a fire did occur at the hall in August 2021, emergency services quickly contained the blaze. Reports from the scene confirmed that the damage was minimal, nowhere near enough to warrant painting over the entire facade.
The real reason for the artwork's disappearance lies in a legal transition. Because of the building's derelict status, the Waterford City and County Council initiated a process to acquire it. This legal mechanism, known as a Vesting Order, was signed in November 2024, officially transferring ownership to the council.
The mural's removal was a direct result of this change in ownership. Stripping the facade was simply a necessary step to prepare the property for its new purpose. The council is now responsible for this public asset, and its future will be determined by the needs of the city. While it's a shame to see the art go, its removal signifies a new chapter for the building—one that promises to bring a once-neglected space back to life.
Conclusion
The De La Salle Hall mural was a highlight of my time in Waterford, a beautiful piece that transformed a disused building. Its removal was not an act of artistic neglect or the result of fire, but a logical step in a legal and administrative process. The building was declared a derelict site, acquired by the city council, and is now being prepared for a new life.
The mural served its purpose beautifully, but its physical presence is now gone. Its legacy, however, lives on in the photographs and memories of those who saw it. Its removal marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for a significant piece of Waterford's history.
I must admit that I was surprised to discover that I have not visited Waterford since 2021 especially as I was convinced that I had visited late in 2023.
I am trying to produce a comprehensive record, with photographs, of my visits and while the plan was to visit the city once every year every thing changed because of Covid-19 and I had no option but to cancel a number of visits. While I thought that I had visited in 2023 this was not the case as my mother who was 103 years of age, at the time, was unwell so I had to cancel my October 2023 visit a few days before I was due to travel. The hotel would not allow me to reschedule for March 2024 and as I had difficulty finding suitable accommodation Waterford did not remain on my schedule for that year. This year, 2025, I have booked the Granville and it was a wonderful experience
As already mentioned, I thought that I had visited Waterford in 2023 but when I checked the records I discovered that cancelled the October trip and did not visit in 2024. I stayed at the Portree in August 2021. I also stayed at the Portree in August 2019. I stayed in the Fitzwilton in July 2018 and in August 2017. I had a room in May 2016 at the Waterford Marina Hotel. While I cannot find any records I know that I stayed at the Waterford Marina Hotel in 2015 or 2014. At this stage I cannot find any photographs of Waterford that pre-date my 2016 visit but I will continue my search.
Back in 2016, a trip to Waterford was an exciting mission to find and photograph street art. The city was full of 'Waterford Walls' signs, and it felt like something was about to change. At the time, I was a little disappointed by how little art I could find. However, the highlight of that trip was discovering the De La Salle Hall, a beautiful, old building with a striking mural. From then on, every time I visited the city, I made sure to check on the hall and its artwork.
Imagine my disappointment in August 2025 when I arrived to find the wall completely painted over. I was later told by a walking tour guide that fire damage was to blame, but I've since discovered that this wasn't the full story. The removal of the mural was not an act of neglect or the result of a sudden fire. Instead, it was a slow, deliberate process of legal change and urban renewal.
The Hall's History: A Century of Change
The story of the De La Salle Hall is deeply tied to Waterford's history. It was built in 1891 as a training college for primary school teachers, a place that shaped thousands of educators. After the government rationalised the education system in 1939, it closed as a national college. It then served as a private school until it was eventually abandoned.
For decades, the building stood unused, a prominent part of the streetscape, yet increasingly neglected. Its journey from a private, religious-run institution to a derelict site, and finally to a state-controlled asset, mirrors a broader shift in public life. The building’s decline and eventual designation as a "derelict site" set the stage for its final transformation.
The Art and Its Impermanence
The De La Salle Hall became a canvas during the very first Waterford Walls festival in August 2015. This festival was an immediate success, transforming the city with murals created by talented artists from around the world. The mural on the De La Salle Hall, created by Irish artist Eoin O'Connor, quickly became a favourite. The art breathed new life into the neglected building, perfectly fulfilling the festival’s mission to regenerate urban spaces.
The public's emotional connection to the art was a testament to its success, yet street art is often temporary by nature. While it's a permanent feature of a wall, it can be painted over at the owner's discretion. The De La Salle Hall mural was a beautiful, but temporary, chapter in the building's long story.
The Truth Behind the Removal
The idea that the mural was removed due to fire damage is a contradiction to the facts. While a fire did occur at the hall in August 2021, emergency services quickly contained the blaze. Reports from the scene confirmed that the damage was minimal, nowhere near enough to warrant painting over the entire facade.
The real reason for the artwork's disappearance lies in a legal transition. Because of the building's derelict status, the Waterford City and County Council initiated a process to acquire it. This legal mechanism, known as a Vesting Order, was signed in November 2024, officially transferring ownership to the council.
The mural's removal was a direct result of this change in ownership. Stripping the facade was simply a necessary step to prepare the property for its new purpose. The council is now responsible for this public asset, and its future will be determined by the needs of the city. While it's a shame to see the art go, its removal signifies a new chapter for the building—one that promises to bring a once-neglected space back to life.
Conclusion
The De La Salle Hall mural was a highlight of my time in Waterford, a beautiful piece that transformed a disused building. Its removal was not an act of artistic neglect or the result of fire, but a logical step in a legal and administrative process. The building was declared a derelict site, acquired by the city council, and is now being prepared for a new life.
The mural served its purpose beautifully, but its physical presence is now gone. Its legacy, however, lives on in the photographs and memories of those who saw it. Its removal marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for a significant piece of Waterford's history.