In addition to the day pupils, Greendale had long offered a range of night courses and adult education initiatives, facilitating up to 1,400 students at a time.
A major reunion of past pupils and teachers, covered by the press and national TV, was held in mid-February 2007.
[citation needed] There was some controversy about the closure,[citation needed] for reasons including the pending arrival of more than 2,500 homes within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Kilbarrack (many in Balgriffin and Baldoyle), the school's widely recognised work in education in a challenging environment, and the non-closure of what some saw as less-progressive, non co-educational schools nearby.
Former teachers at the school include playwright and film director Paul Mercier,[2] Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, and Catherine Dunne, and former Dublin Football midfielder Brian Mullins.
Artistic director of the Passion Machine Theatre Company Paul Mercier later stated that "Things are changing at a furious pace.