Class of 2023
Connla Maguire
Callinan & Smith LLP
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Upper Saddle River, NJ
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.
Jack Bridgeman
USGLLC/International The Arts & Sports Division
Greenwood Lake, NY
Greenwood Lake, NY
When I arrived in Newark airport I was filled with mixed emotions, a wave of nervousness came over me as everyone was strangers. However, I was excited to meet everyone, and I looked forward to getting stuck in and experience every opportunity available. My nerves were soon put to rest when my host family’s son, Shea, came over to me and introduced himself to me. We instantly clicked and I knew from that point onwards I was in for a great summer. That evening we had a barbeque at The Waterstone Inn at Greenwood Lake, and we got to know the Mulcahy family. My host family: Una, Sam and their son Shea, treated us like their own and we all got along like an actual family. They were more than kind and took us anywhere that we wanted. I will be forever grateful for Una for giving us so many experiences and opportunities. Emma (another intern also staying and the Gormley house) and I got stuck into work immediately. We were extremely lucky to get involved in so many different projects such as New York Rose of Tralee selection weekend; this weekend was jampacked one. We were helping ensure everything went to according whilst also managing the social media accounts - posting and keeping everything up to date. As I am an Irish dancer, I was really at home over here. The Irish American culture is so strong, and I was greeted with such a warm welcome. I got to experience so many different things due to this. Emma and I got invited to the New York Boulders game and we got our own private lookout suite box. It was surreal as it was my first baseball game and Emma and I were dancing between the games. I will always remember this. I also helped teach the children in Una’s dance classes. I thoroughly enjoyed this, from working with the little beginners helping them with their 1,2,3’s, to working with the older girls, helping them with their set dances for Nationals. This experience really benefited and fueled my dancing career. All the kids and their parents were a pleasure to work with. I will never forget the time of my 22nd birthday when Una and the kids got me a birthday cake and sang happy birthday to me. I hope I installed confidence and inspired them to work hard and chase their dreams. After an evening at dance class there was nothing better to come home to than Sam’s cooking. My favorite meal was his stew. It always was lovelybecause he always cooked Irish meals and felt like a dinner from home. On our days off we went on the paddleboards or Sean Mulcahy would take us out on the boat with the Waterstone Girls - Shannon and Maeve. Between tubing and Jet skiing they were always days to remember. We got to go into New York City and see all the sights and met up with the other interns. We also got to watch the All-Ireland Hurling final in Woodlawn. This day was a great day being a Limerick man. It’s always a truly great experience keeping the Irish American culture alive so far away from home. This summer has taught me a lot about who I am. I arrived here by myself and am departing with lifelong friends. Iwould like to thank Denis Mulcahy and his family, if not for them Project Children would not exist, the story behind the program and its history are of great importance and I am very proud to have been a part of it.
Oisin Fitzgerald
Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
Lafayette, Colorado
Lafayette, Colorado
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.
Clare McBride
Aisling Irish Center
Yonkers, NY
Yonkers, NY
When I received the offer to take part in the Project Children internship programme, I could not have imagined the amazing summer I was about to experience. When we landed in Newark airport and met the volunteers from Project Children, I instantly felt so proud to have the opportunity to represent the organisation for the next seven weeks. My internship was at the Aisling Irish Community Centre in Yonkers. This centre offers activities, programs and events for individuals of all ages that promote Irish culture, education, social welfare, mental health and physical health. I had the privilege of helping at most of the activities that the centre offers including the moms and tots’ group, the Celtic summer camp, the Leadership for Life programme, and the Young @ Heart (senior) activities such as the senior lunch, arts and crafts activities, homebound meal deliveries and bingo. I developed great relationships with all of the individuals who took part in the activities, and it was so rewarding to see members of the community happy to see me when helping at the different programmes. I also helped to complete admin tasks, worked at the reception desk, helped to promote events coming up, assisted with fundraising and helped at events such as the Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Additionally, I volunteered every Monday to deliver meals to homeless people in New York City alongside Joe Cremin. This was a great experience and I enjoyed being able to give my time to such a worthy cause. Through the centre we also got offered the opportunity to tour the Yonkers Police Department with Detective Captain Pat McCormack which was really enjoyable. I am very grateful to have been a member of staff at the Aisling Centre and to have got the opportunity to contribute to the great support they offer the local community. I would like to thank all of the staff at the Aisling Centre for giving me the opportunity to play an active role in the centre. Thank you specifically to Sandra, Paola, Theresa, Ailísh, Naomi, Angie, Lauren, Emilia and Sister Christine who I worked alongside on a daily basis. My host family were Joan, Gary, James and Maggie Feehan and they played a very important role in making my summer so enjoyable. They made me feel at home, were so generous and supported me so well during my time in America. They introduced to me to their extended family, including Joan’s Niece who I became very friendly with. I particularly enjoyed spending two weekends with my host family at their camper in the Catskills, where I got to visit Kaaterskill falls and was there for part of the Irish Arts Week. I will be forever grateful to the Feehan family for taking me into their home and giving me the opportunity to take part in this internship. I was sad to say goodbye to them and hope to stay in contact with them all going into the future. Moreover, in my spare time I often visited New York City, seeing many of the different popular attractions including Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, Staten Island and much more. Furthermore, we attended a New York Yankees baseball game in Yankees Stadium, which was very interesting as I had never watched the sport before. I also took part in fitness classes that were available within the community, which allowed me to get to know more people from the area. Project Children is an amazing organisation that has been providing great opportunities for Irish children and young people since 1975 and I feel very blessed to have been a part of that. We watched the documentary, “How to Defuse a Bomb: The Project Children Story”, at Catherine Flood’s house which showcased the amazing work the organisation done to help pave the way for the peace process in Northern Ireland. Project Children continues to better the lives of Irish young people by providing such an amazing opportunity that will make us stand out as we enter into our future careers. I have made friends for life during this experience, and I look forward to meeting up with the other interns when we return to Ireland. I know that this amazing summer in America will be something we talk about for years to come. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone within Project Children including but not limited to Denis Mulcahy, Al DeBenedictis, Catherine Flood, Linda Croston, Marie-Therese Griffin and Paul Lecky.
Emma McCool
USGLLC/International The Arts & Sports Division
Greenwood Lake, NY
Greenwood Lake, NY
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.
Robert Che Finnegan
Callinan & Smith LLP
Upper Saddle River, NJ
Upper Saddle River, NJ
It’s always been a dream of mine to see the United States of America, summer of 2023 that dream came true. I landed in Newark, NJ, and from there went on to Greenwood Lake, Gaelic Cultural Society to meet other interns for a barbeque in the home of the founder of Project Children, Denis Mulcahy. I was taken away by the unbelievable natural beauty that still exists in the US just mile after mile of forestry as far as the eye can see and lush with wildlife. At Greenwood Lake I met Matt Smith, Matt and his wife Michelle would be inviting me into their home for two months and Matt is the partner of the law firm in which I would be trying my hand for the first time at the Law. I filed motions and arbitrations attended court in three different states, NYC, PA, NJ. I also attended depositions and EUO’s (Examinations Under Oath) and worked on cases through analyzing facts and figures and identifying differences between the defendant and the plaintiff’s evaluation of damages in some cases, and then compiled this information into excel. Matt’s firm primarily has insurance fraud cases, in which he is representing insurance companies such as State Farm and Liberty Mutual. Matt brought me to an Ancient Order of Hibernians meeting in which the Representative Matt Cartwright of the Democratic Party was present. He was in conversation with a fellow Irishman from Mayo who was from the Washington Internship Program the sister program to Project Children and discussed a range of topics on both the US and Ireland. It was incredibly illuminating and was heartening to see the depth of connection that still exists between my country, Ireland and the United States of America. During my time in the US, I spent time in New York City, Washington DC and Philadelphia which were amazing. NYC is filled with every kind of culture on our planet, an exceedingly American city the symbol of America in many respects and yet every part of theworld owns a piece of its DNA. I visited the Museum of the Native American Indian, Grand Central, Times Square and the World Trade Center among a few other places. I fell in love with the city and will be sure to return. I also visited Washington DC and toured all the notable locations from the White House to the Jefferson memorial. The Lincoln memorial is a must see, on my approach up the stairs I was struck by the gravity of the area and what an inspirational once in a generation leader Abraham Lincoln must have been. As you turn to exit you can see over DC to Congress on the far end and you’re standing in the very spot where Reverend Martin Luther King Jr gave his renowned “I have a dream” speech, you will find it difficult not be inspired by that experience and of the trials and tribulations that the US has endured in search of a more perfect Union. Philadelphia the capital city of the US before DC has a lot of history connected to it in relation to the American War of Independence and in many respects reminded me of the city of Belfast back home, an open, kind and honest people live there, and it may have been the most traditional American experience I had. All in all, the US most certainly did not disappoint and there were plenty more memorable experiences I had during my time there. I look forward to returning sometime in the near future, for now wishing the nation the best going forward as I return home to my island of Ireland.
Shannon Cooke
The Waterstone Inn and Village of Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake, NY
Greenwood Lake, NY
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.
Gavin McCann
Supreme Court Judge
Mineola, NY
Mineola, NY
My name is Gavin McCann, and I am a final year Law with Criminology student studying at the University of Ulster, Belfast campus. This past summer, I had the opportunity to complete a seven-week internship in New York through an organisation known as “Project Children”. My experience initially commenced as we were beginning to land in Newark Airport. I glanced out of the window and there it was. New York City. The melting point of cultures. The city of modern marvels. The wondrous Manhattan skyline. I couldn’t wait to embark on this journey of a lifetime. Soon after landing, the interns were greeted by the Project Children coordinators along with the founder, Denis Mulcahy, who established this internship program in order to provide students with the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience in an international setting. I also had the pleasure of meeting the first member of my host family, Tom Kinirons, who has a moustache so perfect I thought his eyebrow had come down for a drink. We were then brought to Tom’s house where we were introduced to his wife, Theresa, who welcomed us with open arms, along with an authentic New York Pizza. During my internship, I had the incredible opportunity to work within the Nassau County Court, located on Long Island, acting under Supreme Court Justice Robert McDonald. The Honourable “Bob” McDonald is an exceptionally talented trial advocate who successfully and effectively handles a range of complex criminal cases within the Special Victims Unit of the Nassau County Court. Additionally, the day-to-day operations of Judge McDonald’s court would cease to function without the first-class performances of his entire backroom staff, in particular Judith Gann, who constantly streamlines workflows and ensures duties are being completed to a high standard. Throughout my time at the court, I had the chance to experience and engage in a number of complicated, and possibly disconcerting, criminal trials involving serious offences such as sex crimes and homicide. Each and every legal professional I had the honour of meeting during my internship possessed a plethora of knowledge that they were more than happy to share with us. This essentially provided me with a critical insight into the workings of the US legal system, along with the key procedural differences between the American and UK justice systems. Alongside my judicial internship, I simultaneously completed a congressional internship at the district office of Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, who represents New York’s 4th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives. My main role within the district office revolved around constituent services. This entailed assisting constituents in resolving issues with federal agencies through casework, listening to constituent’s concerns, and directing constituents to appropriate resources. Other tasks included administrative duties, research on legislation, sending internal and external correspondence, and assisting staff on their projects. I was also fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to work within Congressman D’Esposito’s Washington DC office, which is located in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill. During this weeklong visit, I was heavily involved with the communications team, and I was tasked with writing multiple speeches for the Congressman to present on the Floor of the House of Representatives. I was also required to maintain and update the Congressman’s social media platforms and respond to online enquiries. I would like to extend my gratitude to Tom and Terry Kinirons, whose warm hospitality provided us with a comforting home away from home. I would also like to thank each and every member of the Project Children family who continue to work tirelessly in order to provide Irish students with an unforgettable experience and assist in shaping their future careers. Overall, my experience during the Project Children internship is one that I will never forget, and I would highly recommend it to any student wishing to experience a new walk of life and broaden their horizons.
Emma Coughlan
Aisling Centre
Yonkers, NY
Yonkers, NY
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!
Jack Fitzgerald
Flatirons Habitat for Humanity
Lafayette, Colorado
Lafayette, Colorado
As I arrived in Dublin airport on the 15th of June, I felt nervous and excited but that nervous feeling was certainly squashed once I met my fellow intern Oisín Fitzgerald who I became good friends with! We both were heading to Colorado for the summer working for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. Once we arrived in Newark Airport from Dublin, we had close to a 4-hour layover until our flight to Denver. That time wasn’t long going by as all the interns met together at the airport along with the main man Denis, Al, Linda and others involved. Everyone took some pictures, chatted for a short while before they all headed off to their host families. Once we arrived in Denver airport we were welcomed with open arms by Anthony and Darlene Massey, our host family. I will be forever grateful for what Anthony and Darlene did for us during our stay. Without either of them we would not have been able to have a summer half as amazing and entertaining as it was. With being an avid hiker, Anthony has conquered all fifty-five 14ers (14000feet) in the Rocky Mountain range. With all his experience and knowledge, he was able to take us on many hikes, most certainly tiring and draining due to the heat and altitude at the time, but the sense of achievement and beauty of Colorado made it all worth it. We were also lucky to see many other places such at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming, Mamma Mia in Red Rocks, as a lover of Mamma Mia this was certainly up there with one of my favorite things we did and also seeing other sporting events in different venues. Oisín and I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim Lyons. Jim served as Special Advisor to the President and Secretary of State for economic initiatives in Northern Ireland. After we arrived had we had 4 days before starting at Habitat for Humanity. I wasn’t too sure what to expect as I had never worked in housing construction so I was most certainly looking forward to it. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization located in Boulder, Colorado. Our focus is on the Ponderosa Project, which involves the development of sustainable and affordable housing in a trailer park just outside the city of Boulder. This project arose from the need to address the significant damage caused by floods in recent years, which resulted in the destruction of numerous homes. In response, the city of Boulder purchased the land and started on the construction of new houses to accommodate the affected residents and others seeking to relocate from the caravan park. Oisín and I worked Tuesday to Saturday with Tuesday being ‘staff only days’ where we made some really good friends in Ellie, Utah, Brendan, Ken, and Jenny. We couldn’t have spent our time with a better group of people, not just on a working level but on a personal level, these guys were nothing but incredible to us from the moment we arrived and I loved every minute with them. From Wednesday to Saturday, we worked with different volunteers. Habitat is a volunteer-oriented organization, which means that each day we have approximately 10-15 volunteers. This dynamic brings diversity to the group, allowing Oisin and I to meet individuals from various parts of the United States and beyond from different walks of life. I have learned so much from these people, and they have been incredibly kind and friendly. Whilst working on the Ponderosa Project I have learned various skills in framing, roofing, siding and many more tasks involved in creating these amazing homes. This summer has an incredible experience and one I will forever cherish. I was certainly in awe with Colorado and I do hope to potentially return some day. I’d like to thank Denis for giving Oisín and I the opportunity of a lifetime and also Anthony and Darlene Massey who were nothing but amazing to us during our stay and a massive thanks to everyone else involved that made this journey so special.
Maeve O’Connor
The Waterstone Inn and Village of Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake, NY
Greenwood Lake, NY
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.
Fionn Saxton
Supreme Court Judge
Mineola, NY
Mineola, NY
I arrived in the USA on the 15th of June, we landed amidst sweltering heat and looming thunderous rainclouds. As we disembarked the plane, we trundled through the baggage claim and at the arrivals gate we were met with a welcome to beat all welcomes. Denis, Tom, Al, and more were there to meet us and get us acquainted with the journey ahead. Some were off to Colorado, the rest of us were to be taken to our host families throughout New York. I felt as fresh off the proverbial boat as possible, I had never ventured past the borders of the EU before, so landing in Newark Airport was somewhat of a shock, in very good way. I stayed with Tom and Terry Kinirons, in Oceanside Long Island. They greeted us with a big hug and an even bigger Pizza, after almost a day of travelling I had found my waystation. Tom and Terry sat and talked with us for hours about the history of their involvement with the program, and they laid out what there is for us to do locally and further afield in the big apple. We were only a 1-minute walk from the Long Island Railroad, so access to the city was guaranteed. We began work in the New York state supreme court, under Hon. Robert A McDonald. Mr. Justice McDonald exclusively dealt with special victims, a highly sensitive and trying area of the law that deepened our appreciation for the work done to administer justice so speedily and with such reverence for the safety of the victims. Throughout the summer we got to attend conferences with the judge where his Principal Law Clerk, Judith Gann, Esq would plead cases out with lawyers and ADA’s. We saw the heart of the American legal system laid bare, and at every turn we got explainers and tips on how to be an effective advocate. Throughout our internship we attended lectures on civil, criminal, and family court systems and their operation, as well as partaking in an exclusive ‘Mock Opening Statements’ event where I got to write and deliver opening statements to lawyers, who then gave me tricks and pointers to improve the quality of the opening, it was truly something I will always remember. I got to attend my first English Premier League matches while there, and I saw Philadelphia, Maryland, and New Jersey as a result. The entire summer was spent abreast of the law during the weekdays and exploring New York on the weekends. Nothing compares to the immense metropolis on the Atlantic that is old New York, it is a place comparable only in life and vitality to the Rome of antiquity. The city has a pulse, and you feel it every single day. America is so different, so large, so wild and wonderful that it is truly incomparable to anything else, and I have the generosity and kindness of Project Children to thank for it. No such opportunity exists elsewhere, no place else has the quality of spirit nor the ingenuity that has been so carefully crafted by the people of PC. I can’t lavish them all with praise enough to express how amazing they were, especially our host family Tom and Terry, who took every step to make us feel at home with them, it was so kind and so wonderful. My time in America has given me a desire to live here in the near future, and I am not short on connections as a result of this internship. When I complete my education, I fully intend to return so that I can resume the wonderful life that awaits here, and it is entirely the work of the Project Children volunteers who make this all possible.