Jamie ‘Smiley’ Donohoe Golf Classic to raise funds for Patrician breakfast club

It’s been 16 years since Jamie Donohoe passed away, but the kindness he exhibited in his short life has been passed on through his family with over €45,000 raised in his name for various charities.

This year is no different with the Jamie ‘Smiley’ Donohoe Golf Tournament set to take place on June 3 at Newbridge Golf Club.

This year’s chosen charity is the Newbridge Patrician Brothers School Breakfast Club.

Jamie died on March 10 2007 in a tragic car accident when he was just 16 years old.

His family explain how he was known as Smiley to all who knew him because of his happy demeanour — he was never without a smile. Hence the nickname ‘Smiley’.

On Jamie’s first anniversary his family ran a one-off golf memorial in his memory with the proceeds going to St Brigid’s Hospice.

Success

The event was a great success and with the encouragement of participants involved, Jamie’s family Paul, Maria, Ciara and Hayley decided to try and make it an annual event.

Thanks to the support and generosity of the public the event has grown in strength with over €45,000 being raised for various charities to date in Jamie’s name, including St. Brigid’s Hospice, Make A Wish Foundation, Newbridge Oblate Lourdes Group, Injured Jockeys Association, The Dining Table Newbridge, Jumping Jellybeans Milltown, Kildare Down Syndrome Association, Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, Newbridge Samaritans and a defibrillator for the Patrician Secondary School Newbridge where Jamie was a student at the time of his passing.

Despite being hindered by Covid, the tournament made a return last year.

“Run at Newbridge Golf Club, the event has become a fixture in the annual calendar with many of the players, tee sponsors and prize sponsors remaining involved from the first outing in 2008,” said the Donohoe family.

10th anniversary

“For Jamie’s 10th Anniversary the Stafford Family, owners of Newbridge Golf Club kindly dedicated the newly constructed bridge leading to the 08th Green to Jamie and it is now known as Smiley’s Bridge to many.”

Planning is well under way for this year’s event, which is well known for the quality of its prizes. All awards are fully sponsored and this year promises be no exception with team prizes for the first four teams as well as individual prizes for nearest the pin, longest drive, the much-acclaimed best dressed for both ladies, gentlemen and much more.

The Donohoe family would like to thank all of those who have generously supported this event throughout the years.

Good cause

“This year all money raised will go the Newbridge Patrician Brothers School Breakfast Club. Jamie was a student at the school at the time of his passing and they have been a strong supporter of Jamie’s Golf Classic every year,” explain the family.

“The breakfast club runs every morning from 8am to 8.45am. It is invitational to all students, helping to make sure that all students get a decent start to their day and are not going hungry.

“Numbers can vary each day, but on average up to 200 students avail of this on any given day. Breakfast consists of toast (butter or Nutella) and juice.

“On special occasions like Christmas, and with the support of the schools caterer, they do sausages and rashers. The Patrician Brothers breakfast club is run by the staff on a voluntary basis.”

If anyone would like to find out more information, or support this event, they can call 086-0472543.