Pakistani golfers donate €10,000 to Autism school with Laois students

Pakistani Golfers Ireland have given a generous donation to Saplings Special School which serves children with Autism from Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny and Kildare.

The group hosted their annual Pakistan Golf Cup at Powerscourt Golf Club last July, raising an impressive €10,000 for the school in Killeshin on the Laois border. 

It will be used to lease a suite of iPads for students across both primary and post-primary settings. The sport group visited Saplings recently to present the iPads.

Saplings Special School supports 30 students aged 4–18 with autism and complex needs. They come from Carlow town and the wider Carlow–Kilkenny region, with some families travelling from Laois and Kildare.

Pakistani Golfers Ireland’s Hugh O’Brien, Irfan Hameed, Dr Zulifqar Ali, Amir Iqbal, Tanveer Alam presenting a cheque for €10,000 to Sapling Special School’s Principal, Lesley Brant and Cian Dooley, Gillian Cunningham, Harry Jordan, Kian Morgan-Keogh, Joe Donnegan, Evan Grehan, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

Lesley Brant, Principal at Saplings Special School is delighted with the donation.

“On behalf of our school community, I extend my sincere gratitude to Pakistani Golfers Ireland for their generosity. The funds raised through this year’s Pakistan Golf Cup will have a lasting and positive impact on our students, opening new opportunities for communication, learning and personal growth.”

“The iPad lease represents an essential investment in accessible digital learning, and will have a direct and immediate impact on how our students communicate, learn and regulate throughout the school day. Our staff deliver highly individualised, evidence-based teaching and support for students with diverse sensory, communication, behavioural and educational needs.

“This new suite of iPads will further strengthen that work, thanks to the generous donation from Pakistani Golfers Ireland,” the principal said. 

The new technology will enhance communication, particularly for the school’s pre-verbal and minimally verbal students who rely on AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) apps.

The iPads will also support individualised learning programmes, including literacy, numeracy, visual scheduling, regulation apps and skill-building tools. The devices will further enhance assessment and tracking, enabling teachers and SNAs to tailor support with greater accuracy and flexibility.

Pakistani Golfers Ireland’s Hugh O’Brien, Irfan Hameed, Dr Zulifqar Ali, Amir Iqbal, Tanveer Alam presenting a cheque for €10,000 to Sapling Special School’s Principal, Lesley Brant and Cian Dooley, Gillian Cunningham, Harry Jordan, Kian Morgan-Keogh, Joe Donnegan, Evan Grehan, Michelle Fitzpatrick.

It is the second year that the Pakistan Golf Cup has incorporated a charitable initiative, reflecting the organisers’ commitment to giving back to the Irish community. Last year’s beneficiary was St Laurence's NS, Baldoyle, Dublin 13.

Funds were raised through tee-box sponsorships and individual donations from the Pakistani community in Ireland. There was also major support from the Pakistan Ireland Business Council, whose platform played a vital role in the campaign.

President of the Council, Irfan Hameed, expressed his "heartfelt wish that the contribution could have been ten times greater". He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to future collaboration with the business community to raise even more impactful support for such initiatives.

Dr. Nasir Awan is co-founder of Pakistani Golfers Ireland.

“Ireland has welcomed our community with warmth and generosity, and we are proud to call this country our home. Giving back through the Pakistan Golf Cup is our way of showing appreciation for that kindness. This year’s event truly reflected the spirit of friendship, sportsmanship and shared purpose. We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and donors, and we remain committed to raising even more funds in the years ahead to support charities and organisations making a meaningful difference,” he said.

A total of 72 golfers participated in the event, including distinguished guest H.E. Melitta Schubert, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria. This year’s champion, Usman Shaukat, proudly lifting the trophy sponsored by the Embassy of Pakistan in Dublin.

Pakistani Golfers Ireland’s Hugh O’Brien, Irfan Hameed, Dr Zulifqar Ali, Amir Iqbal, Tanveer Alam presenting a cheque for €10,000 to Sapling Special School

Pakistani Golfers Ireland was founded in 2018; with 18 golfers playing in the first competition in Killeen Castle Golf Club. Today the club has 85 members, consisting of doctors, consultants and business owners.

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Pakistani Golfers Ireland hosts four events every year for members and invited diplomats and Irish CEOs; at Powerscourt Golf Club, Slieve Russell Golf Club, Roganstown, and The K Club. For further information Pakistani Golfers Ireland email pakistanigolfersireland@gmail.com.