Unlike most interns, I was fortunate enough to know my fellow intern who I was staying with, Bobby Che, as we both played for the same GAA club (St. Galls in Belfast). This made settling into the US incredibly easy as we became close friends. We stayed with Matt and Michele Smith in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. We worked in Matt’s law firm Callinan & Smith LLP, based across Hawley, New Jersey and New York. The Hawley office was my main residence of work, which was a short drive from the house in Honesdale, and home to Matt and Michele’s son Matthew. I can’t thank the Smiths enough for helping Bobby and I settle into life in America; they welcomed us into their home as if we were their own and looked out for us from day one. 

I study Economics with Finance in Queen’s University Belfast; therefore, I was a bit apprehensive about working in a law firm as my only experience with law is from watching Suits and Law & Order. However, Matt made sure I was kept busy and allowed me to look into the more business and management aspects of the firm, while still giving me the full law experience of depositions, EUOs, arbitrations, and a few court appearances. I really enjoyed getting to sit in with both Matt and Matthew on various depositions, allowing me to witness how much work goes into building a case before it even goes to trial. The court appearances were especially enjoyable as I got to see firsthand how cases are argued and settled. I also had the pleasure of speaking to a judge on occasion, which was an exceptional and eye-opening experience. In the office I worked on management projects, made a business brochure, and completed publication notices, which have given me a good insight to the work that goes on within the law firm. We were fortunate enough to explore the US, all while working at the law firm. Matt and Michele kindly took us to explore many different cities including Scranton, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Gettysburg. Luckily enough we seen incredible sights from the Washington Monument and White House in Washington DC, the Rocky Steps in Philadelphia, to Cooper’s seafood restaurant which features in the Office TV show. The trip to Philadelphia, Washington and Gettysburg was fascinating as Matt filled us in on his vast knowledge of American war history. Matt also brought Bobby and I to Scranton for an AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians) gathering where we had the pleasure of meeting Congressman Matt Cartwright. We went to many events over this trip such as Robert Plant and Counting Crows live at Woodstock, a county fair which had a demolition derby, and some fleamarkets in Hawley and Honesdale.The opportunity to be a part ofProject Children was truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would like to thank everyone involved with a special mention to Dennis Mulcahy, the Smith family and Monica Culbert for giving me this chance to live the American dream for 8 weeks. I have made so many memories and have learned so much about American culture, but also Irish culture from Matt’s incredible stories, jokes and his somewhat irrational beef with Elmo! I will be forever grateful to the Smiths for welcoming me into their home and I hope that I will see them again sometime in the future, be it in Ireland or the US.

I spent this summer in the construction engineering internship working with Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. Myself and Jack Fitzgerald spent 6 weeks with the amazing team they have, helping to build safe, decent and affordable housing for people in Boulder County, Colorado who have lower income or were affected by floods. I met Jack in Dublin airport on the 16th of June and we made our way to our flight to Newark airport. There we met the 12 other interns, Denis, and the rest of the Project Children staff. We then left the other interns to fly to Denver International Airport. I’d like to sincerely thank Denis Mulcahy for this once in a lifetime opportunity and Ellen Lynch for helping me almost daily to get everything sorted for heading over. We feel so lucky to have been placed with Anthony and Darlene Massey as they have been unbelievably kind and helpful to us. Thanks to them we got to see so much of the mountains, wildlife, the city and meet new people. They have been so hospitable and we genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better host family.I’d like to thank Brendan, Ellie, Jenny, Ken and Utah who were there every day and were always there if I needed anything. It would have been no fun working in the high 90s without them. Work started a few days after our arrival and we couldn’t wait to get into it. Learning the trade was something I really enjoyed and I was fortunate that they had the most patient and forgiving site supervisors. Habitat for Humanity relies on volunteer help to support their goal of building affordable housing. It was unreal getting to meet new people every day from all over the country and even to make friends with them. I spent my weeks framing porches and interior walls, blocking, sheathing the roofs and waterproofing. I learned so much about how an American house is constructed and what keeps it standing. I did find it very difficult to convert to the imperial system and also found myself wondering where all the bricks were. Working with Habitat has been the best job I’ve ever had. It has been so rewarding to see the progress that your labor and the labor of others can make in such a short time. We’ve met so many different people from different walks of life and tried new foods we never thought existed (for example a chicken breast between two glazed donuts). The most notable experiences were hiking all the way to the continental divide with Anthony at nearly 13,000 feet and also seeing a rodeo in Cheyenne. This has been the best summer of my life. I will never forget it as long as I live. I’ve made new friendships here and seen things I never imagined. I am so grateful for all the love and kindness I was shown by everyone involved with this program.

After my time with Project Children this year I can safely say this summer will be one to remember forever. Arriving to Dublin airport I was filled with nerves but also excitement for what was ahead. Meeting with the other interns calmed my nerves straight away, knowing we were all headed for an amazing experience together. We met with Denis Mulcahy and Sam Gormley at Newark airport and headed to Greenwood Lake where we would spend the next 7 weeks. I stayed with Sam and Unateresa Gormley and their son Shea, and another intern Jack. The Gormley family were so welcoming from the very beginning and I cannot thank them all enough for taking us in and giving us so many amazing opportunities. Working with Unateresa was amazing as we got to do so many different things. Immediately we began through social media promoting the New York Rose of Tralee and got to attend the selection and all the preceding events. This meant we got to experience events in Manhattan and Woodlawn which were all so exciting and wonderfully organised by Unateresa. We also helped out with the Sheahan Gormley Irish Dance classes, even taking some on our own whilst Una was away. As a dancer myself, this was a great experience as it made me feel at home and it was lovely to meet so many young aspiring dancers. Seeing so many Irish American families who are still rooting their children into Irish Culture through dance was wonderful to see. Working with the dance school awarded us many unbelievable opportunities, such as performing at a New York Boulders baseball game. This was a great day as we got to watch the game from a private box before performing with some of Una’s other dancers. We also worked on the Irish American Young Leaders program, which was great to see as some of the dancers we had worked with were heading off to Ireland for two weeks to experience Irish culture for the summer! With all the hard work came a lot of fun, as we had many day trips on our days off to experience New York. We went into Manhattan to watch a New York Mets baseball game and see all the sights, visited Mountain Creek Waterpark, and even went into Woodlawn to watch the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Watching the match was eye opening, being in New York yet surrounded by Irish people and Irish Culture. You’re never too far from home! A highlight for me was the 4th of July weekend. Early celebrations in Greenwood Lake involved watching the fireworks from the boat on the lake which was surreal. We also were able to go into Manhattan on the 4th to see the fireworks and had an amazing night. My stay at Greenwood Lake was unforgettable thanks to the Gormley family and Mulcahy family who were all incredibly good to us. From taking us out on the lake on boats and jet skis, to driving us to the city at the weekend, nothing was ever too much to ask of them and we were all so grateful for what they did for us. I feel extremely lucky and thankful to have spent my summer here. I have made friends for life and memories that will never be forgotten, and I will cherish this summer forever.

I turned 22 the day we travelled to New York and what an amazing way to spend my birthday, feeling nervous, eager, and lots of anticipation. I was happy to see some familiar faces in Dublin airport as we had met up in Belfast prior to our journey, which immediately put my nerves at ease. We were warmly welcomed by Denis Mulcahy and the Project Children team and were quickly off on our journey to Greenwood Lake. We were welcomed with a barbeque and Maeve (another intern) and I were shown to our living quarters where we quickly divided the room in half and agreed who got what bed. As of June 2023, I graduated University with a degree in Primary Teaching. However, when I was presented with the opportunity to intern at The Waterstone Inn in Greenwood Lake for the summer, I thought this was a great chance to try something new, learn new skills, and follow example from Denis Mulcahy himself living under his roof alongside his close family and friends. We immediately began work and were kindly shown the ropes of Innkeeping duties by Christine, a Mulcahy family friend and worker at the Inn. Christine’s leadership, kindness, and friendliness were greatly appreciated all summer. I believe I picked up the skills of cleaning the BnB living space and bedrooms quite quickly, learning to perfect the infamous ‘military tuck’ on the beds, and the perfectly folded napkins on the breakfast tables – however those in particular took me longer than normal to perfect. When guests were staying at the Inn, I cooked and served the breakfast, with the varied help of Christine, Maureen Mulcahy, and Maeve. Cooking breakfast for customers of up to 14 people taught me that I can successfully work in a kitchen under pressure, as part of a team, and also cook new meals that I have never done before... my family at home will be happy to hear of my new love for cooking and cleaning! Maeve and I stayed in The Waterstone Inn alongside Maureen and her daughter Seana. I am so grateful to them for opening up their home to us. We really became a part of the family through having dinners together (which were kindly made by Miriam Mulcahy), attending community events such as the local comedy club, and participating in music bingo. Maureen expressed to us that their motto is “Work Hard, Play Hard’ and I can definitely say that the motto is true! On our days off, Maeve and I joined the other Greenwood Lake interns, Emma and Jack. We got to go kayaking, paddle boarding and occasionally Sean Mulcahy brought us out on the family pontoon boat where we went jet skiing and tubing. We also travelled into New York City to see a New York Mets Baseball game at Citi Field, watched Chicago on Broadway, visited the NYPD Bomb Squad, and we spent 4th of July watching the amazing fireworks by the Hudson. We also visited Mountain Creek Waterpark, Six Flags, enjoyed plenty of shopping trips, and got to see Nathan Carter (the original and only singer of ‘Wagon Wheel’) in Rockland GAA. My experience in Greenwood Lake was amazing and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to be a part of the Project Children Team. Thank you especially to Denis, the work he does for this program and for his home town is amazing and living under his lead has made me want to follow in his hardworking, kind, and giving footsteps. I would also like to thank the rest of the Mulcahy family and Gormley family, for taking us to all the incredible adventures, without them we wouldn’t have had half the experience we did. I have made memories and friends that will last a lifetime.

Upon my arrival at Newark airport on June 15th, 2023, I was feeling both scared and excited as I began my journey as an intern with Project Children. Little did I realize that this summer would become the best experience of my life to date. I stayed in the Bronx with Breda and John, who wholeheartedly welcomed me into their home and made my time in New York one to remember. My internship was in the Aisling Irish Community and Cultural Center. The Aisling Centre offers free and low-cost programming that promotes Irish culture, mental and physical health, education, social, welfare, and a connection to Irish traditions and community. My internship in the Aisling Centre has allowed me to gain invaluable experiences and skills which will benefit me hugely throughout my career as a Primary School teacher. As part of my internship in the center, I was involved with the Celtic summer camp. I really enjoyed being involved with the camp as I got to work as part of a team, build my confidence and seeing how much the children enjoyed the camp made being involved very rewarding. My internship in the Aisling Center included being involved with their annual Golf outing, organizing and carrying out activities for the senior programme and summer camp, promoting the center by distributing flyers around the local community, carrying out administrative duties and working alongside staff to promote Irish culture. A highlight of my time in the Aisling Center was being involved with the senior program. The center’s senior program is known as the Young @ Heart and its aim is to ensure social interactions so that no individual feels alone. I was involved with the senior lunch and bingo each week. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the seniors and having conversations with them about Ireland and listening to stories from their time growing up in Ireland/America. I also got the opportunity to be involved with the center’s homebound meals delivery service which delivers meals to seniors homes every Wednesday. Every Monday evening, I volunteered with the center’s homeless program which delivers food to homeless people in New York City. This was an eye-opening experience and made me feel so much more appreciative for the simple things in life.  During my free time I really enjoyed exploring New York City and spending time with my host family and the other interns. Most of my weekends included a trip into the city where I visited popular tourist attractions including Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Times Square, The Highline, 9/11 memorial, Ellis Island, Yankee Stadium and Chinatown. Clare and I went to Brooklyn for a day where we visited Dumbo, the Time Out Market, Brooklyn Park and sat by the shore watching the skyline of Manhattan. We also had the opportunity to visit Greenwood Lake where we went kayaking and for lunch with the other interns. I got the opportunity to visit the Yonkers Police Department, where Detective Captain Pat McCormack gave us a tour of the local police station and explained to us how the police department operates. All the interns gathered in Catherine Flood’s house to watch the documentary, ‘How to Defuse a Bomb’. The documentary outlines Denis’ role in the Northern Ireland peace process. Watching the documentary really made me appreciate being part of the Project Children program. Spending time with my wonderful host family Breda and John has been a highlight of the trip. Breda’s evening meals were always a lovely treat and I can now confirm that shrimp is my new favorite food! I went many places with them including Untermeyer gardens, Hastings-on- Hudson to watch the 4th of July fireworks, a trip to NYC and the Team Aisling Hike on Schunnemunk mountain. I will forever be grateful for their kindness, generosity and warm hospitality throughout my stay in New York. I would like to thank Denis Mulcahy, Pat Mulcahy, Ellen Mulcahy, Catherine Flood, Linda Croston and all those involved with Project Children for giving me the summer of a lifetime with the most amazing memories!

The summer of 2023 was spent stateside creating memories, fulfilling dreams and making lifelong friends. It started in Newark Airport, which was a hive of activity where I met the other interns, including my soon to be roommate Shannon. The man of the moment - he who made all this possible - Mr. Denis Mulcahy presided over the meet and greet. Shannon and I followed Denis to his white truck (he’d have no business of a white truck in Ireland with all the rain!) not knowing what to expect but in a state of excitement and high anticipation for what was ahead. Along the highway there were lush green fields as far as the eye could see; not dissimilar to the verdant slopes of the fields at home except for the palm trees. Everything was so organized and so calm; the palm trees, the hot weather, the tourists and the locals blending together perfectly. This is America! I told myself. Arriving in Greenwood Lake, a small country town we received a warm welcome from everybody at the Waterstone Inn; this was to be our home for the next seven weeks. The Mulcahy family, along with friends had prepared a barbecue for us out front. In the meantime, Emma and Jack, the two other interns arrived. They were also staying on the lake and so The Lake Crew was formed and for the next seven weeks we did everything together. The first week was hectic as we were put straight to work. Shannon worked inside making breakfast and cleaning. I was outside working with Denis and Denis the 4th. We told stories, cracked jokes and had a lot of fun while on the job. The fact that Denis was from Meelin, a village five minutes from my home meant we were never short on conversation whether tracing relations or talking about his brother Pat. We did everything - mowing lawns, cleaning shoots, installing AC, replacing docks and even painting signs, to name but a few. There was always a project on the horizon and something to look forward to. We even put up an electric fence to keep the Canadian geese out which saved me a summer of collecting geese poop! I fully embraced this hands on experience. Denis’s wisdom was truly remarkable. We did more than just work though, never fear! Living by a lake gave us endless opportunities to paddle board, kayak, jet ski, tube and also take trips on the family pontoon boat, usually guided by Sean Mulcahy or Denis Junior. Those were evenings to look forward to as we had mighty craic and a few beers as we sailed down the lake with the tunes on. If we weren’t out on the lake, you could find us in Murphy’s bar having a few cheeky pints over a couple of games of pool. We watched countless movies in the inn over pizza and cake. Apart from the lake we visited many attractions. We saw Nathan Carter in Rockland’s G.A.A. pitch; we visited Six Flags Adventure Theme Park and Mountain Creek Water Park. We went on lots of shopping trips from the Palisades to Woodbury Common - my personal favourite! The occasional visit to Vernon where Maureen Mulcahy, our hostess had a condo was always a special treat; it felt like a holiday even though we were already on holiday. The trips to New York were amazing. We walked along Brooklyn Bridge, saw Rockefeller Centre, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Times Square; we were at City Fields for a Mets v Milwaukee Brewers game; we marvelled at Trump Tower......the list goes on! I don’t think I would be here if it weren’t for Pat Mulcahy (Denis’s brother in Ireland). I knew Pat long before I came here as I used to ride horses for him. Once, while on a visit to Pat’s house, he and his wife Kathleen told me stories about Greenwood Lake and how much fun I would have. It did not disappoint!!! They also discussed why Project Children was set up and the changes it made to students in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. I was honored to be part of a project that aspired for peace in Northern Ireland. Watching the documentary: “How to Diffuse a Bomb” really was an eye opener for me. It showed me the the importance of the project and the legacy we as interns would become part of. We met some amazing people along the way. The local town folk were incredibly nice and always welcoming. Our host Maureen was exceptional in every way. She was our American Mammy! Nothing was a hassle to her. Maureen gave us everything we needed and anticipated our needs; Maureen gave us the best advice, which we heeded because of the wonderful rapport we had with her. Maureen not only did her best for us but always had our best interests at heart. Her kindness will be forever remembered. We couldn’t have asked for a better hostess. Her daughter Seana was always up for the craic and ever ready to take us on trips shopping or even for ice cream. She was full of excitement, tips and tricks which made our stay that much better. I’d like to thank Miriam Mulcahy for cooking us the most delightful food everyday which made Greenwood Lake feel like home. We worked with Christine and Aileen in the Inn. Their infectious spirit floated around the inn and always had everyone in a great mood even giving us tips to make the work a little easier. They were a lot of fun. The highlight of my trip was when Sean Mulcahy, a member of the NYPD Bomb Squad picked Shannon and I up in New York and took us to visit his workplace. We walked around in awe as we saw huge bomb trucks. He gave us the opportunity to try on the bomb suit and the helmet and spoke about the work he does on a daily basis. It was a really cool experience and, on the way, home while singing songs and cracking jokes, he took us to a bar where Shannon and I sang karaoke. What a day!! Living with Shannon was really cool; we shared stories and clothes. It was so nice to live with another girl of a similar age. We come from completely different backgrounds; Shannon is from Belfast and I’m from Cork but we got on like a house on fire! Maybe this was because Belfast is the premier city in the north and Cork is the premier city and county in the south! We spent a lot of time with Emma and Jack also and we all became really close. I hope we can continue our friendship in Ireland. Looking back on the summer of 23’ it is one I will always remember. Greenwood Lake was a home away from home. Working alongside Denis was a thrilling experience and no job was too difficult no matter how big it was. I will be forever grateful to the Mulcahy family for their kindness and generosity throughout our stay at Greenwood Lake.