A powerful new exhibition chronicling the extraordinary legacy of Project Children is to open this evening at Monaghan County Museum.
Project Children Stories showcases a compelling archive of photographs, personal testimonies, and video footage, documenting five decades of grassroots peace-building.
The initiative helped foster cross-community understanding during the Troubles.
The exhibition has been developed as part of a cultural partnership between Monaghan County Council and Project Children.
Founded in 1975 by NYPD bomb squad officer Denis Mulcahy and his brother Pat, Project Children brought over 23,000 children from across Northern Ireland—both Catholic and Protestant—to spend summers with host families across the United States.
From the Mulcahy family’s bold first steps in rural New York to the network of American host families, tireless volunteers, and the children whose lives were forever shaped.
The Garda Band is joining the NYPD Police Band for a historic march, leaving the Courthouse Square at 5pm and leading a parade to the Peace Campus, where Monaghan County Museum is located.
Reflecting on the cultural partnership that brought the exhibition to life, Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, said:
“Project Children Stories stands as a testament to the vital role cultural exchange plays in building peace. Monaghan County Council is proud to collaborate with our partners in the United States to honour this remarkable legacy and inspire future generations through shared history and human connection.”
These sentiments were echoed by Project Children Co-Founder, Denis Mulcahy:
“It’s a true honour to see the Project Children exhibition housed at the Monaghan Peace Campus. It feels especially fitting that the story of the program, and of all those who shaped it, is being preserved in a place so deeply connected to the values we stood for. Marking 50 years is not only about reflection, but also about ensuring that the lessons, friendships, and legacy of Project Children continue to inspire future generations. I’m proud to partner with Monaghan County Council and the Monaghan County Museum on this meaningful initiative.”
Project Children Stories is now open at Monaghan County Museum at the Peace Campus.
