Project Children: Legacy book launched

The extraordinary story of Project Children, the cross-community initiative that brought more than 23,000 children from Northern Ireland to the United States during the Troubles, was celebrated at Monaghan Peace Campus recently, with the launch of a book ‘Project Children: The Legacy’ .

The event on October 13 also marked the first anniversary of the Project Children Stories exhibition, a permanent archive at the Peace Campus.

Project Children started in 1975, bringing Catholic and Protestant children together to share a summer away from the Troubles.

BBC broadcaster and former Project Children participant Barra Best acted as master of ceremonies, joined on stage by author Jane Buckley, who spent three years gathering memories and testimonies for the book, alongside Project Children co-founder and chairperson Denis Mulcahy.

Members of the Mulcahy family, who travelled from the US included Miriam, Denis's wife of 60 years, who played a key role in matching children with host families. Their children also attended: Seán, an NYPD bomb disposal expert; Tara, who works for the US Government; and Denis Jnr., who works in finance. Daughter Maureen didn't make the trip, keeping the home fires burning in Greenwood Lake.

Buckley explained that one of her main goals was to ensure those who had worked tirelessly behind the scenes were not forgotten. “There were no fax machines, no internet. It was all done by hand,” she said.

Among the accounts that stayed with her was the story of a boy from Derry who travelled to America as a child and described it as the most fantastic summer of his life. Yet he never returned and spent decades believing his host family no longer wanted him. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he finally wrote to the address he still remembered. To his astonishment, they told him they had written but the letters never reached him because his mother had hidden them. The misunderstanding affected the man's self-worth throughout much of his life.

She also reflected on the courage shown by parents who allowed children as young as nine to travel across the Atlantic to families they had never met. “The hosts took a leap of faith,” she said, “but so did the parents.”

For Denis Mulcahy, seeing these memories preserved in print represented another milestone.

The book follows the creation of the Project Children archive, permanent exhibition, play and documentary, all designed to ensure future generations understand the programme's significance. Mr Mulcahy thanked his family, supporters and Monaghan County Council. “It has been an amazing journey,” he said. “You couldn't script it.”

Buckley closed with a reminder: “It shouldn't matter who is sitting beside you, what their surname is or which school they attended. We are all equal.”

While the six-week holiday programme has ended, its spirit lives on through the Mulcahy Scholarship, which sees American students travel to Ireland, and the Project Children Summer Internship Programme, which enables Irish students spend seven weeks living and working in the US on the J1 visa programme.

Throughout the evening, guests reflected on both the programme's history and future. Interviews conducted by Barra Best featured Deputies Cathy Bennett and David Maxwell, both credited with helping bring Project Children to Monaghan.

Maxwell said the programme resonated deeply because he comes from a Protestant background and spent part of his childhood in Northern Ireland. All 18 Monaghan Co Councillors at the time were thanked for backing Project Children coming to the Peace Campus.

Monaghan council Chief Executive Robert Burns spoke of the tourism, cultural and economic potential of the archive in future years, while Monaghan Museum Curator Liam Bradley described the exhibition as Project Children's “shop window” to the world.

Earlier that day, a cross-community GAA football blitz for children and an international friendly involving An Garda Síochána, the NYPD took place at St Tiernach's Park. Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern and Monaghan Superintendent Pat O'Connell joined NYPD Detective Patrick Daly on stage honouring Monaghan native Catherine Flood and Cork woman Linda Croston, two New York-based event organisers who volunteer time to Project Children.

Guests also viewed previously unseen footage from How to Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story, so called because it was a peace initiative founded by two NYPD officers, brothers Denis and Pat. Denis is a former bomb disposal expert.

Documentary maker Des Henderson explained how a sequence involving former participant James Dawson and actor Michael Keaton ended up on the cutting-room floor because Keaton's schedule prevented him from being interviewed.

The film is narrated by Liam Neeson and features former US President Bill Clinton, both of whom sent messages of congratulations ahead of the event. The documentary is now available to watch on YouTube.

One of the evening's most moving contributions came from former participant Patricia MacBride. Hosted by a family in New Jersey, she found a father figure there, her own father shot dead when she was just age three. The experience shaped her future career and commitment to human rights and victims' issues.

She recalled how Project Children reached the White House, with former US President Ronald Reagan sending a $500 donation to her host father Joe.

Kevin Brady, who first travelled to the US in 1975 and later enjoyed a long career in journalism, praised Buckley's work. Fellow 1975 participant Barbara Carson was also in attendance.

Music and readings formed a central part of the celebration. Amelia McCormack performed The Island while her children, Beibhínn, Cíana and Bríon McCormack, joined Thomas McCarron in reading extracts from the newly launched book.

A video message was sent by Tommy Howley, Mayor of Greenwood Lake, from Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill, and former minister Heather Humphreys, who was acknowledged for her longstanding support.

Cáitriona Sherlock, Malachi Cush and the McKenna Family also performed, with Plunkett McGartland accompanying Cush on piano. The guests of honour were introduced by a lone piper from the NYPD Emerald Society. The evening concluded with an ensemble rendition of You Raise Me Up.

The book is available from Sound Quality Monaghan, as well as Oakleaf Press, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.