MSA is a company full of everyday heroes who have dedicated their entire careers to keeping our communities safe. Many go above and beyond the call of duty, giving back through charitable work as well. This month, one of MSA’s own received an extraordinary honor for forty years of dedication to the children of Northern Ireland and Ireland. Denis Mulcahy, MSA Bomb Technician and founder of Project Children, was formally invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (for our American readers – the highest honor within the Order is knighthood).
Medal of the Order of the British Empire
Denis was born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States at 17, finding his way to the NYPD by age 22. In 1975, when Ireland was rife with political violence between Catholic and Protestant communities, Denis and his brother Pat believed they could create a small but positive impact. That summer they brought six children from Northern Ireland – three Protestants and three Catholics – to upstate New York. They wanted to get the children away from the violence at home and show them they could live together in peace and understanding.
Denis Mulcahy with Padraig O’Hara and his host brother, Matthew Savage Aibel
This was the beginning of Project Children. Over the past forty years, Project Children has brought over 22,000 children to the United States. They have a staff comprised entirely of dedicated volunteers throughout the United States and Ireland, and are funded entirely by private donations. The organization has a youth program for children 10-14 and an internship program for college students. Children are placed with host families throughout the country. Internships promote ethnic and religious tolerance and diversity.
Project Children has been hugely successful in its mission to improve relations between Catholics and Protestants throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland. The organization has played a substantial role in the peace process, and in the lives of the individual children. After forty years, Project Children has become multi-generational, with the children of earlier participants joining as well.
Denis and his family following the investiture ceremony at the British Embassy in Washington D.C.
This is not the first, nor will it be the last time Denis is recognized for his work. In 1995 President Clinton invited Denis to accompany him on his trip to Northern Ireland as part of the peace process. Denis was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice. Today, Denis is being honored by Holy Family University with an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. Despite the accolades, Denis remains modest and committed to the mission of Project Children. Next month he heads down to Alabama with this summer’s interns to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity with the children.
MSA is proud to support Project Children annually at their Golf Tournament in Garrison, New York. If you would like to learn more about Project Children, or to make a donation, please visit www.projectchildren.org.