By Katie Mellett — The Irish Times

It begins not with a step — but a breath. The kind that carries the first whispers of spring, a scent woven with fresh earth and promise. This is the new garden at Saplings Special School, Rathfarnham, where the ordinary has turned extraordinary.

Imagine a garden where the paths don’t merely guide you but invite exploration. Raised beds stand like gentle guardians of green, accessible to tiny hands eager to touch the world. And tucked near the corner: a zen den, a multi-use sensory room where calm isn’t just a word but a feeling that wraps around you like a soft blanket.

More Than a Garden, A New World

Rory and Dylan O’Connor, brothers and students here, have wandered these enhanced paths since last week, their mother Yvonne Nolan watching in awe. “We wanted this to happen, and it’s what we wished for,” she says, her voice catching on a breath of disbelief. “It just feels surreal that it’s happening.”

This sanctuary wasn’t just planted overnight. It’s the fruit of Difference Days, founded by Denis O’Reilly, who turned a personal challenge into a community mission. Teams from local companies, armed with hands and hearts, spent a day transforming this space — not with cost, but with kindness and sweat.

A Labor of Love and Change

Denis’s wife Angela sparked the idea years ago, when she lamented the lack of funding to brighten the grounds of their son Charlie’s center. Fast forward 15 years, and Difference Days does 20 big projects annually, each a burst of hope in places that need it most.

Principal Roman Przewoznik explains, “Eighty per cent of our students are nonverbal. They require space — more than just room, but age-appropriate and nurturing spaces. This garden is a gift that opens them up to new experiences.”

Why It Matters

– The zen den offers regulation and calm for moments overwhelmed by the world’s buzz.
– Raised beds and wide paths let children explore safely and freely.
– Volunteers including parents, students, and specialists knit this project with love and community spirit.

In Saplings’ garden, every leaf and stone seems to speak a quiet promise: here, you are seen, you are held, you can grow.

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