Pakistani Golfers Ireland raise €10,000 for Leitrim primary school
Members of Pakistani Golfers Ireland presented a €10,000 cheque to Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Carrigallen National School, raised through the annual Pakistan Golf Cup.
Pakistani Golfers Ireland has donated €10,000 to Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Carrigallen National School, following its annual Pakistan Golf Cup at Powerscourt Golf Club in July.
The donation was presented to the school on Friday, October 23, and will fund training and ongoing care for Vernon, the school’s new therapy dog, a sensory room in its Early Intervention classroom, and private occupational therapy (OT) assessments to identify and address pupils’ sensory and regulatory needs.
Carrigallen National School has five special classes for children with autism, including Leitrim’s first Early Intervention Autism class for preschool children.
Vernon joined the school earlier this year through My Canine Companion, which provides trained dogs to schools and communities.
Acting Principal Carmel Dockery said the funding would help the school provide additional support for pupils.
“Every child deserves to feel comfortable, understood and supported in school, and we are continually looking for ways to make that possible. This generous contribution will help us develop practical supports that respond to the different needs of our pupils, from creating a dedicated sensory space to accessing specialist occupational therapy advice.
“Vernon has already brought so much warmth to our school. The children have enjoyed getting to know him, sharing their reading with him and introducing him to their classrooms and activities. We look forward to seeing the relationships he builds with our pupils as he becomes an even more familiar and valued part of school life. We are extremely grateful to Pakistani Golfers Ireland for helping us continue to create an inclusive environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Dr Nasir Awan, co-founder of Pakistani Golfers Ireland, said: “The Pakistan Golf Cup is about more than bringing people together through golf. It is an opportunity to turn that shared enthusiasm into something that benefits others and strengthens the communities of which we are proud to be a part.
“Hearing how Carrigallen National School plans to use the funds makes this year’s initiative particularly meaningful. Supporting projects that help children feel secure, included and ready to learn is a cause we are delighted to stand behind. We would like to thank everyone who sponsored, donated or took part in the tournament. Their generosity has made this contribution possible, and we hope to build on this work through future events.”
Acting Principal Carmel Dockery added: “The support we have received will help us put important resources in place for our children and strengthen the work our staff do every day. The sensory room and access to occupational therapy guidance will help us better understand and respond to individual needs, while Vernon will continue to offer another valuable source of comfort and connection. We sincerely appreciate the generosity of everyone involved in making this donation possible.”
This is the third year the Pakistan Golf Cup has included charitable fundraising. Previous beneficiaries were St Laurence’s National School in Baldoyle, Dublin 13, and Saplings Special School in Carlow.
A total of 80 golfers from Ireland and the UK took part in this year’s tournament, with Hamza Raziq winning the competition and lifting the trophy sponsored by the Embassy of Pakistan in Dublin.