Ireland launches the People’s Peace Forest at Monaghan Peace Campus

Ceremonial Tree Planting Marks 50 Years of Project Children and Ireland’s Commitment to the UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative

Monaghan, Ireland, 8 October 2025 – A ceremonial tree planting at the Monaghan Peace Campus today marked the official launch of The People’s Peace Forest (PPF)—Ireland’s contribution to the UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative – a global programme that links land restoration with peace-building.

Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Project Children, a programme that brought over 23,000 children from Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland to the United States for summers of respite, friendship and hope – the event proposes the creation of a Project Children Legacy Forest, symbolizing the enduring impact of reconciliation through relationship.

Held at the Monaghan Peace Campus – a cross-community facility dedicated to peace-building, youth engagement and civic participation—the launch could not have taken place in a more fitting location. The building itself stands as a testament to the power of shared spaces to heal division and foster understanding. 

“Today marks a significant milestone for the journey of the UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative. We gathered here to celebrate the inauguration of the People’s Peace Forest on the island of Ireland. It is a contribution from our generation to the next. The living web of greeneries and trees we are creating today is a foundation for connectivity, cohesion and coexistence of people and environment. It will thrive and last as a symbol of prosperity, unity and peace.” — Mr. Utchang Kang, Peace Forest Initiative Lead, UNCCD

Also, symbolic was the type of trees chosen for the commemoration – Sweet William heritage apple trees – a once-lost Irish variety recently rediscovered and restored to Irish soil. Chosen for its story of resilience, remembrance and renewal, the tree stands as a living emblem of reconciliation and heritage.

“This is a proud day for Monaghan,” said Cathaoirleach Cllr. P.J. O’Hanlon, Monaghan County Council. “The People’s Peace Forest brings together everything we believe in—community, cooperation, care for the environment and a shared commitment to peace. Project Children planted seeds of hope in young people for fifty years, and today we honour that legacy with the launch of the People’s Peace Forest, by planting something that will grow for generations.”

Honouring Project Children’s legacy

The Monaghan launch is one of several events taking place this year to mark Project Children’s 50th anniversary. The programme – co-founded by former NYPD Bomb Squad Officer Denis Mulcahy – emerged from the violence of the Troubles to give children the chance to experience peace, possibility and cross-cultural understanding in the United States. For many, it was life-changing.

Remarking on the events, Denis Mulcahy, Co-Founder and Chairman of Project Children said: “It’s an honour for Project Children to contribute this tree planting and plaque to Monaghan County Council in celebration of our cultural partnership on the same day as the launch of the People’s Peace Forest. Just as the People’s Peace Forest grows from roots of reconciliation and hope, so too does the history of Project Children continue to inspire new generations. Our tree will stand as a living reminder of the power of peace, friendship, and healing; those values that have shaped Project Children’s journey over the past 50 years.”
 

A forest for the future

From the Monaghan Peace Campus, the People’s Peace Forest will expand over time into a cross-border, cross-community network of tree planting and ecological restoration initiatives – designed not only to heal land, but to connect people.

Organizers envision schools, community groups, landowners and local authorities across Ireland participating in this long-term movement – making space for biodiversity, for beauty and for peace to take root.

Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council noted: “With Monaghan now the home of the Project Children Archive and the starting point of the People’s Peace Forest, we are proud that this county can carry forward the legacy of reconciliation – rooted in memory, and reaching towards a shared future of peace.”  

For further queries contact: communications [at] monaghancoco.ie (communications(at)monaghancoco.ie)

Notes to editors

About the PFI – Peace Forest Initiative

The Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) is a flagship programme of UNCCD that demonstrates crucial linkages between land, peace and security. It is designed to address restoration of ecosystems and land-based resources including land, soil, water and forests in fragile and conflict-affected locations.

Ireland’s contribution is both civic-led and government-aligned, uniting communities, NGOs, local authorities and businesses across the island.

About the UNCCD 

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.

The People’s Peace Forest – Rooted in community and reconciliation

Inspired by the global Peace Forest Initiative, the People’s Peace Forest was introduced to Ireland by Rev. David Latimer, who helped secure Derry-Londonderry’s designation as an International City of Peace in 2023, and Don Mullan, author and peace campaigner, who has long worked at the intersection of reconciliation, peace-building and environmental advocacy. Together, they envisioned the People’s Peace Forest as a natural extension of Ireland’s long-standing commitment to reconciliation, environmental justice and civic engagement.

The initiative has already brought together a broad coalition including:

• Monaghan County Council
• Derry City and Strabane District Council
• The Tree Council of Ireland
• Hometree.ie
• Woodland Trust (UK)
• NRG Solutions and others

About Project Children

Founded in 1975 by NYPD bomb squad officer Denis Mulcahy and his brother Pat, originally from Rockchapel in County Cork, Project Children brought over 23,000 children from across Northern Ireland – both Catholic and Protestant – to spend summers with host families across the United States. At the height of the Troubles, this grassroots initiative offered thousands of young people a temporary escape from conflict and the opportunity to experience peace, understanding and friendship in a neutral environment.

Monaghan County has formed a cultural partnership with Project Children, that sees Monaghan County Museum launch a moving new exhibition The Project Children Stories, celebrating the extraordinary legacy of Project Children.