Project Children
Ballinamore and Aughnasheelin honour Denis & Miriam Mulcahy & The Project Children Charity
On Tuesday, 16th September, Leitrim County Council in partnership with Ballinamore Community School and Aughnasheelin Hall Committee welcomed Denis and Miriam (nee O’Rourke) Mulcahy to The Island Theatre, Ballinamore and Aughnasheelin Community Centre. The day long visit, which included 2 screenings of the Project Children documentary in The Island Theatre and a plaque unveiling and tree planting in Aughnasheelin, marked 50 years since the foundation of the Project Children charity of which Denis and Miriam were founding members.
Project Children was founded to bring young people from Northern Ireland to host families in the US during “The Troubles” and the documentary follows the stories of several of the young people and their host families before, during & after their trip.
Denis and Miriam arrived at the Island to launch the first screening of the day with students from Ballinamore Community School. Pupils from 3rd, 4th, and 5th year, accompanied by their teachers, enjoyed refreshments as they settled in to watch the powerful Project Children documentary.
Principal Diarmuid McCaffrey addressed the audience, highlighting the significance of the film in the context of the students’ current curriculum, which now includes the Troubles. He noted that only a few years ago, both students and staff had been more directly impacted by the conflict, making the screening particularly poignant.
The students were thrilled by the surprise appearance of Denis Mulcahy and actively engaged in a lively Q&A session with the Project Children team, exploring topics such as the influence of social media on peacebuilding and youth engagement.
The day continued at Aughnasheelin Community Centre with a warm and collaborative community lunch, generously supported by Leitrim County Council and the Aughnasheelin Community Hall Committee. The event brought together local residents and members of the O’Rourke family, many of whom travelled from across the country and beyond to honour Miriam during a special commemorative plaque unveiling and tree planting ceremony.
In a heartfelt moment, Miriam shared cherished memories of her late father, recalling how he taught her to waltz in the very same community centre when she was a child. Surrounded by family, friends, and neighbours, she reflected on the deep sense of belonging and familiarity of being back home in Aughnasheelin.
The evening’s proceedings returned to the Island Theatre, where Cathaoirleach Paddy Farrell officially opened the event. He was joined by local musicians, councillors, representatives from Monaghan County Council, community leaders, members of the Project Children Scholarship Committee, and travelling friends and family of the O’Rourke and Mulcahy families.
Denis Mulcahy sat among the audience and shared heartfelt stories from the 40-year history of Project Children, recounting the experiences of young people who travelled to New York for summer holidays to escape the challenges of life in Northern Ireland. He expressed his gratitude to all involved in County Leitrim for making the day such a success.
Looking ahead, Denis, Miriam, and the Project Children team will continue their tour in the coming weeks, culminating in a special 50th anniversary celebration on 7th October. This milestone event will also mark the official launch of the Project Children archive’s relocation to the new Monaghan Peace Campus.