As part of the celebration for its 50th anniversary Project Children has a new home in County Monaghan where its grand story will be on permanent display in an exhibit in Monaghan Town.
And what is now a cultural partnership between Project Children and Monaghan County Council, the landmark anniversary was recently marked by a transatlantic parade featuring An Garda Síochána’s Ceremonial Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, Garda Band and NYPD Pipes and Drums, Emerald Society, the First Citizen of County Monaghan PJ O’Hanlon and local dignitaries.
The parade through the town was led by Grand Marshal Denis Mulcahy, Project Children Co-Founder, and his wife Miriam.
Members of the New York Police Department travelled to join their Irish counterparts for the four-day celebrations around the launch of "Project Children Stories – A Legacy of Peace Lives on in Monaghan," which is now housed at the iconic Peace Campus in Monaghan Town.
County Cork native Denis Mulcahy immigrated to America aged 17, became a U.S. citizen, joined the NYPD and then the department's Bomb Squad.
Being an explosives expert, The Troubles in Northern Ireland attracted his attention on the news. Denis wanted to show youngsters that there was more to life than violence. So he enlisted the help of his brother Pat, a few friends and, with the backing of Greenwood Lake Cultural Society in Orange County, New York, Project Children was born.
In the summer of 1975 Project Children brought six children, three Catholics, three Protestants, to Greenwood Lake for a six-week holiday. When the Good Friday Agreement came into being in 1998, 23,000 children had benefited from the program, thanks to 16,000 host families across the United States and countless volunteers.
Monaghan’s economy was boosted by an estimated €1 million, with 320 US visitors coming to the county for the launch. Liam Bradley, Monaghan County Museum Curator, was an essential figure in bringing the complete archive to Monaghan and was instrumental in creating the fascinating exhibit that accompanies it.
During the launch, the curator commented: “We're here to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Children … what happened because of that created a generational shift in how people understand Catholic and Protestant traditions in Northern Ireland and seeded the bed for peace.”
Monaghan’s First Citizen, PJ O’Hanlon, added: “Over 3,500 people lost their lives during The Troubles. Over 1,800 of them were civilians … this is the greatest honour I have ever had in my life, to welcome the Mulcahy family and the American people. The Project Children exhibit and archive are in this building. We will cherish and look after them. We will work hard together to make sure that this is never forgotten by generations to come.”
Monaghan County Council Chief Executive Robert Burns observed in his poetic address: “Project Children was a simple idea – bring young people away from a grey place of division and fear where borders held communities apart, to a place of technicolour where anything was possible and those borders didn’t matter. What remained was friendship, forged through a shared experience.
“The genesis of the Peace Campus is similarly rooted in simplicity and hope; to create a space where people, regardless of their background, could come together and feel safe. For their ideas to be valued, even cherished, and to reach across the borders of politics, religion, economics and culture to make a connection with the people who are their neighbours.
"Both Project Children and the Peace Campus are defined by movement … towards something better … hope in a better future for everyone. That hope is now realised in the physical presence of this building and in the exhibit.”
Project Children’s Co-Founder and Chairperson Denis Mulcahy commented: “We are so thankful for our partnership with Monaghan County Council. I couldn't think of a better place to have the museum, the memorabilia from the programme. Somebody up there was guiding us and brought us to Monaghan.”
Denis couldn’t let the occasion go by without acknowledging his wife of 60 years, Miriam, and their family.
He paid tribute to Catherine Flood, who helped initiate the project’s connection with her native Monaghan, and Linda Croston from Cork. The two volunteer with Project Children as coordinators.
Former chairpersons of Monaghan County Council, Cathy Bennett and David Maxwell, were both acknowledged for their invaluable roles in bringing Project Children to Monaghan.
Speaking about the exhibit, Museum Curator Liam Bradley said: “I invite anyone to come along. It's all free. It's going to be here in the structure for the next six months … (then) we'll be restructuring the exhibit, consolidating it into the long-term displays in the museum. Project Children will live on. The collection will always be here. If someone wants to come and research the archive tonight or in 30 years, it’s all documented.”
The exhibit features Denis’s generous donation of his NYPD uniforms, bomb disposal suit and numerous awards. It is well worth a visit and is worthy of inclusion in any Irish travel itinerary. For more information check out monaghanpeacecampus.com and projectchildren.org.
