Project Children

Autumn Programme of Events – 10th -13th October 2026

Join us this autumn for a special series of Project Children events celebrating a legacy of understanding, friendship and peace. Delivered through the cultural partnership between Monaghan County Council and Project Children, the programme features documentary screenings, theatre performances, community conversations and the launch of a new Project Children book. Building on the success of last year’s 50th anniversary celebrations, these events continue to share the stories, friendships and lasting connections that have touched generations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Saturday 10^th October

A Place for Everyone – Community Day at the Peace Campus, 11am – 4pm

Join us at the Peace Campus where the Museum, Library and Youth & Community Services are providing a for a fun-filled day of discovery, creativity and cultural celebration. Designed for all ages, the programme features live music and dance, interactive exhibitions, community arts activities, virtual reality experiences, storytelling, theatre and hands-on heritage experiences. There will also be a dedicated sensory room for anyone who wants a little quiet time.

Highlights include a virtual reality tour of Rossmore Castle, Ulster-Scots music and dance performances. Visitors can also explore the Bealtaine mosaic exhibition, enjoy documentary screenings, and take part in activities that celebrate the rich cultures, stories and traditions that connect our communities.

Sunday 11^th October

Documentary Screening at Iontas Theatre, Castleblayney, 6pm

Join us in Iontas, Castleblayney for a special screening of How to Defuse a Bomb, a powerful documentary exploring peace-building, reconciliation and the human stories behind conflict resolution. Presented in association with Blayney Blades, the screening offers an opportunity to reflect on themes of conflict, community and understanding, followed by discussion and community engagement. The evening starts with entertainment at 6pm and screening will commence at 6.30pm sharp.

This is a free event but seats must be booked in advance – Click Here to book seats “How To Defuse A Bomb” FREE Film Screening

Monday 12^th October

The Unfinished Broadside Performance, The Peace Campus, 7.30pm

Join us at the Peace Campus for a special performance of The Unfinished Broadside, a powerful theatrical production that explores history, identity and community through drama, music and dance.

As America marks its 250th anniversary, this acclaimed production examines the Irish and Scottish influences on the birth of the United States. Written by Jonathan Burgess, the story follows John Dunlap, the Strabane-born printer who raced to produce the first copies of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Blending historical storytelling with contemporary theatre, The Unfinished Broadside promises a captivating evening and a unique highlight of the Project Children legacy events programme.

Tuesday 13^th October

NYPD Gaelic Football Club Exhibition Match, St Tiernach’s Park Clones, from 12noon

An event not to be missed, a unique NYPD Gaelic Football Club Exhibition Match at St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones. The afternoon begins with a Cross-Community Children’s Blitz at 12 noon, bringing young people together through sport, friendship and fun in the spirit of Project Children, before the NYPD Gaelic Football Club takes on An Garda Síochána’s Louth-Cavan-Monaghan Divisional GAA Team in a special exhibition match at 1pm. This event celebrates the enduring friendships and transatlantic connections fostered through Project Children over the past five decades. This event is open to everyone and promises a memorable afternoon of community spirit, sporting entertainment and celebration.

Project Children: The Legacy Book Launch, The Peace Campus, from 4.30pm

The final stage of the programme centres on the launch of a new Project Children book, a landmark publication capturing the stories, memories and enduring impact of the initiative over the past 50 years. Hosted at the Peace Campus, the event will bring together Project Children participants, supporters and special guests for an evening of reflection, storytelling and celebration. From 4.30pm, visitors are welcome to Monaghan Library at The Peace Campus, where they can purchase the book, meet author Jane Buckley and have copies signed. The official launch and celebratory programme begins at 7.00pm, bringing together Project Children participants, supporters and special guests for an evening of reflection, storytelling and entertainment, celebrating the enduring legacy of the programme.

Registration is required. The main event will take place in the Community Room on Level 3. Due to limited capacity, additional guests will be accommodated in other spaces throughout the Monaghan Peace Campus, where they can watch the event via livestream.

Register Here

We invite everyone to join us for this special programme of events celebrating the enduring legacy of Project Children. All events are free to attend, and we look forward to welcoming you to share in these stories of friendship, understanding and peace.

About Project Children

In 1975, Belfast was one of the most bombed cities in the world. For many children, life was shaped by fear and division. Meanwhile, in Greenwood Lake, New York, two Irish brothers, Denis and Pat Mulcahey, had a simple idea: to bring six children from Northern Ireland to America for six weeks of peace, friendship and fun. Boys and girls. Catholics and Protestants. Away from the violence of The Troubles, they could experience swimming, baseball, hills and lakes instead of bombings and conflict. From those first six children, Project Children grew to welcome more than 23,000 young people from across Northern Ireland, creating friendships and understanding that would last a lifetime.

A Cultural Partnership

In October 2025, to mark the 50th anniversary of Project Children, Monaghan County Council, through its cultural partnership with Project Children, launched The Project Children Stories exhibition and permanent archive. Through personal memories, photographs, artefacts and recorded testimonies, the exhibition celebrates the experiences, friendships and lasting legacy of the children who travelled through the programme—children who swam together, ran together, learned together and, ultimately, made peace together. Visitors are invited to experience this remarkable story for themselves at Monaghan County Museum, where the exhibition continues to preserve and share the enduring legacy of Project Children for future generations..