'Project Children': Cork couple’s dream of peace

Half a century ago, in New York, Cork couple Patrick and Kathleen Mulcahy wondered how they could help children in Northern Ireland suffering at the height of the Troubles. They had the idea of bringing them over to enjoy a holiday with host families in the U.S.

The idea became the volunteer-run Project Children, founded in the summer of 1975 by Patrick and Kathleen. Patrick’s brother Denis and his wife Miriam took over the reins of the project after they returned to Ireland.

The 50th anniversary of Project Children is celebrated on Nationwide on RTÉ1 at 7pm on Monday, as reporter John Kilraine explores how, at a time of deep conflict and mistrust in Ireland, young Catholics and Protestants from the North were brought together..

Reporter Valerie Waters travels to Monaghan to see an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Project Children

Meanwhile,  Nationwide on Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of the death of renowned Irish playwright, Brian Friel, and the programme on Friday meets a Mayo man who is documenting handball courts in Ireland through photography.