School management was criticised in a 2012 Department of Education inspection report for taking on €500,000 in debts for refurbishments with little educational benefit, and for teachers teaching subjects for which they were not qualified, under the leadership of then principal Gearoid O' Brien.

[8] Gaelic games were always a significant sport in De La Salle College,[original research?]

Seven former GAA presidents trained at De La Salle, and a number of inter-county players and managers have gone to school in the college.

The school is also linked to De La Salle GAA club.

[citation needed] Two former Irish soccer internationals, Jim Beglin and John O'Shea, are among the school's past pupils.