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The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise

Please Join Us for Upcoming Golf Tournaments
          On Monday, September 20, the First Annual NICE Philadelphia Golf Outing will be held at Waynesborough Country Club. Co-Chairman Mark Sullivan tells it is one of the premier courses on Philadelphia's main line, and it is extremely challenging. There are just a few spots left, so please call us immediately with your reservation.
          2000 will bring us the First Annual NICE Golf Outing at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach, FL on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Co-chairing the event will be Dr. Patrick J. Hillery (former President of Ireland) and Dr. Maeve Hillery. It will be followed by the Third Annual NICE Golf Outing at Pelican Marsh Golf Club, in Naples, FL. on 2/21/00.
          We are also planning the First Annual NICE San Francisco Outing at the Presidio Golf Club in April. We'll let you know as soon as we finalize the details.

From the Chairman
Donal J. Murphy
          If someone had told me in 1989 when I founded the NICE program that by the year 2000 we would own two first-class facilities, have between 8-10,000 participants in our program, and hold seven golf outings around the country, I would have told them, in the words of our first visitor Jim Mullan, "You're daft, man!" The reality is that we are doing all of the above, and on a current annual budget of just $300,000. To support this effort we have a staff of three people in Belfast and one in Mount Kisco, and many, many volunteers without whom we could not exist. Thank you all.
          :From the very onset of the program we have been very fortunate to have Carmel McCavana, initially as the coordinator and then as our Executive Director in Belfast since 1992. Without her vision, leadership and direction the program would not exist.
          The holiday portion of the program began in 1978 under the auspices of The Irish Children's Summer Program of Westchester and Putnam Counties. For seventeen of those years we have been fortunate to have Paul McCrory as a chaperone for the Catholic and Protestant children brought to our area. Paul tells us he is retiring as our chaperone for the American visits, but we hope he has a change of heart next spring. If not, we all thank you, Paul, for your wit, your friendship, and your dedication to the children. He will continue to stay active in the program in Northern Ireland.
          1999 was the first year in twelve that Mary Jo and I did not have Anne Shannon stay with us as a chaperone and we missed her. However we want to thank Anne for all the good years; we enjoyed her stays. I have no doubt she will return as she has a full wardrobe in "Anne's room."
Now for the commercial.
          We have one of the finest programs of its kind. Through their involvement in NICE children from both religions are becoming friends. Surprisingly, this is also true for the parents who volunteer their time to NICE. This program began some twenty years ago bringing children together for a six-week summer holiday in our area. In 1989, the first house was purchased in Ballycastle as the weekend residence for sixteen children and three to four chaperones. Annually approximately 500 children use the facility. Last year we purchased the Belfast center where our goal is to have fifty visits from program participants per day, six days a week. We are well on our way to achieving that goal with programs that are currently under development. With these two facilities we will operate seven days a week with over ten thousand participants annually in NICE programs. To support this effort we are starting a foundation to provide the funding to keep NICE in business as long as necessary. Our real goal is to be put out of business, but unfortunately for the foreseeable future, there will be an ongoing need for programs such as NICE. Recognizing this, we have established a foundation to ensure the program's future viability.
Why a $5,000,000 Foundation?
          Our goal is to capitalize the foundation at $5,000,000. Assuming a conservative annual rate of return of five to six percent, the foundation will generate approximately $300,000, allowing NICE to become self sustaining.
          Everyone on our mailing list will be receiving a foundation funding request. We ask you to consider it carefully when thinking about your charitable giving programs in the coming years. We know you have other deserving causes to support, but the people of Northern Ireland have not known real peace for hundreds of years. I believe they deserve better. Whether your background is Irish or not, we need your financial support. In the beginning, some of our biggest financial supporters were from outside the Irish community. Thank you Irving Goldstein, Burt Cohen.
          The campaign has been initiated by a commitment of $100,000 each from Fred McCarthy and from and Mary Jo and myself. Bill Griffin of Hudson Valley Bank has also made a substantial commitment. Mike Moriarty and his partner Creighton Schenk will raise $100,000. We are grateful for their help, but we have a long way to go.
          I realize that this first Chairman's note has been lengthy, but there were a number of areas to be covered. There are other areas not covered, but I shall do that in future newsletters. Thank you all for your past and future support.

Report from the Executive Director, Northern Ireland
Carmel McCavana
          The last few months have been another typically busy period for NICE. We had a small gathering at our Belfast center, Australia House, during the June visit of The Ireland Funds Worldwide to Belfast. We used this opportunity to invite a few guests to unveil plaques to Don Murphy, our Chairman and Founder, whose generosity and vision have brought us this far, and to the Australian Ireland Fund and its Governors for their support in the development of Australia House. Amongst the guests were Bob Halverson, the Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Charles and Eva Curran of the Australian Ireland Fund, Teresa Keating of the Australian Ireland Fund, and our patron Fred McCarthy.
          We had an extremely enjoyable afternoon showing them the center and explaining our programs in greater detail. They all left with great energy for the work we are involved in and were delighted that their support had made such an impact.
          During the past two months, even though the center hasn't been officially opened, we have had over four hundred parents, adults, and young people visit the center to take part in various activities! Our new center director, Graínne McKenna, takes up her post with us in September. Graínne has been working for the past three years as Community Relations Officer for Dungannon District Council and is an extremely motivated and energetic person, who will bring enormous energy and commitment to NICE. We are all looking forward to having her on the staff team and developing the work of NICE. The Center in Ballycastle has been a hive of activity during the last few weeks. Assistant Director Bobby Halliday has been organizing mid-week residentials for young people, and some volunteers have also spent time in the center with family groups.
          We had a very successful summer in the USA for forty-eight young people from Belfast who were hosted by families in the New York and Connecticut area for six weeks. We are currently sending out questionnaires to our parents in Northern Ireland to see how they and their children viewed the experience, and will report back in the next issue. We had two new chaperones this year: Kelly Henry who is currently working in our office in Belfast on a government sponsored work scheme, and Aideen Cochrane who is a teacher in Holy Child, one of our feeder schools in Belfast. They thoroughly enjoyed the visit. Senior chaperone Paul McCrory, who has been coming out each summer for the past seventeen years, is talking seriously about retiring. We are indebted to Paul for his work not just in the USA but throughout the year in Northern Ireland and thank him most sincerely for his commitment to NICE. A word of thanks also to Kathie and Tommy (TC) Collins who have hosted Paul during all these years. I am sure they will be glad to have their house to themselves next year!
          On the political front things continue to move very slowly. The first anniversary of the Omagh bombing has just passed. We all thought this would be a watershed and given those horrific events any obstacles that remained to creating a lasting peace could be overcome. But a year later we are still waiting for the new political structures to be implemented. Years of suspicion and mistrust are hard to overcome, and while the delay is very frustrating for people on the ground, if real peace is to be finally achieved, we can wait a little longer, I suppose!
          It will be more important than ever in the next few years for us to continue our work in bringing people together, and involving them in programs that help them gain a better understanding of each other's culture and help them to listen to each other. Everyone who has grown up in Northern Ireland has their own story to tell about how the violence, prejudice and sectarianism has effected their lives. We in Nice can enable people to grow by helping them to describe their experiences, and to share them in an atmosphere of trust and understanding. It is only by understanding what divides us that we can help people recognize the things that they have in common. Our programs can help people achieve this awareness. Your help and support will be vital in helping us to develop our work, to ensure that we are reaching as many people as we can, and involving them in work which will ensure real and lasting peace in this society.

A Letter from Belfast
Dear Carmel, Bobby, and crew,
          Thank you for giving our daughter Nicole the opportunity to participate in the "American Trip." She had a wonderful holiday with John and Tara Shoureck in New York and has a lot of great memories.
          Nicole and Jennifer from Holy Child Primary got on like a house on fire, and I hope they can continue their friendship now that they are at home.
           Many thanks again.
          Kim and Les Wilson

NICE Calendar of Events

Volume 3, Issue 1      Spring 1999

NICE Times

Return to Home The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise The mission of NICE is to promote peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding between the communities in Northern Ireland. Greetings from the President of Ireland Message from President McAleese I am delighted to send greetings and best wishes to the Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise. For many years now your organization has played an important role in the promotion of peace on this island by bringing together children from both traditions and providing them with an opportunity to develop mutual respect and understanding in a warm and friendly atmosphere. I commend everyone associated with the Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise for your proven commitment to what we all desire and pray for - the achievement of a sustainable peace for all the people on the island of Ireland. I congratulate you on your many successes in the past and wish you every continued success in the years ahead. Mary McAleese President of Ireland Host Families Needed for Summer 1999           Summer is rapidly approaching, and we are making plans for the arrival of the children from Belfast on June 28. NICE has had a very successful year, and so has the opportunity to significantly increase the number of children we can bring to the United States in 1999. Yet we can only accomplish this goal if we have an equal number of host families.            NICE continues to seek host families for 9 to 12 year old boys and girls from Northern Ireland. NICE pays for transportation and medical insurance; host families provide love, room and board. The children we bring over are an equal mix of Catholic and Protestant, and they will be here for six weeks. We find the program works best if you have a child at home in the same age group. Because we do keep in touch with the children while they are here, and have chaperones they know from home in the area, we limit the geographical range of the program to Westchester, Putnam, Fairfield and the surrounding area.            If you know of a family that has a bit of extra room in their home and would be interested in sharing their summer with a visitor, please call NICE at 914-666-6656. Golf Tournaments Continue to Fund NICE The 2nd Annual NICE Golf Tournament in Naples, Florida was a tremendous success that raised over $50,000. We were lucky to have a brilliantly sunny Florida day for the outing, held at Pelican Marsh Golf Club with its newly-completed club house. Special thanks to Chairman Amby Redmond (pictured at right) and his wonderful committee. Thanks to all of our golfers, dinner guests, and auction bidders. Be sure to join us for the Mount Kisco tournament on June 10 (see page 4 for the full schedule of golf outings.) A Letter from Belfast           It's almost a full year since we discovered that our daughter Lisa was being considered for a summer holiday in the United States. We had never heard of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise, or NICE, as we now know them. We were very anxious about her being so far from home at such a young age, and staying with complete strangers. To be completely honest, we couldn't understand why American families wished to "host" our children. In hindsight, I now consider the whole event as one of the most positive transitional experiences my family and I have ever had.           Our eldest daughter Lisa was paired with another girl, Jennie, who was from a different part of Belfast and from a different religious background. We met Jennie and her family a few weeks before the holiday commenced and we were courteous in a cautious sort of way. Jennie joined our family for a visit to the cinema one weekend but we never believed we would meet after the USA holiday. I'm glad to say I was very wrong.           It wasn't long after the girls left before we were speaking with Jennie's parents on the phone. We were both anxious for news from New York. As it turned out, the girls had the holiday of a lifetime. Their hosts, Ray and Lucy, went to amazing lengths to show them the wonders of their city, and, most importantly, treated them as members of their own family. On their return, we knew that the girls had changed. Lisa was confident and positive and happy. The stories of their adventures are still being told on almost a daily basis.           The most important and unexpected aspect of the holiday is that the friendship between the three families continues to grow. Jennie's family and ours meet regularly in our homes for a drink and a chat. Lisa, Jennie, and our other daughter Rachel arrange frequent sleepovers and are in constant contact with each other and their hosts in the USA by phone and email. Jennie is considered as an extra daughter. It's difficult to view members of your own family with suspicion because they have a different religion or live in a part of the city where you once felt uncomfortable or fearful for your life. We have started to trust again.           When Lisa and Jennie took their "one small step" onto the plane to the USA, it was the beginning of a journey for all of us, a journey where our children and their host families became our guides. Through their traveling away, we were actually brought together and I now laugh and tell other people how an American family that we never met introduced us to our newest Belfast friends. It is said "travel broadens the mind." It certainly worked for me and I never even left the country. We now work harder to ensure that the kindness from America continues to work long after the children return home. So thank you NICE and all host families.                     Richard Ferguson                     Belfast                     March, 1999 A Letter from White Plains, NY It has been great to keep in touch with NICE and with Lisa Ferguson and Jennie Andrews and their families. Ray and I are thrilled that the girls along with their families have kept in touch with us. Since August, we've heard from them regularly every 7-10 days. Ray and I are also elated that not only have Lisa and Jennie continued their friendships, but their families have become friends. They all spent Christmas Eve together. So you can understand why we want to have the girls back this summer. Ray and I are so pleased to be participating in your wonderful and worthy organization.                      Cordially,                      Lucy Tocci                      White Plains, NY Report from the Executive Director, Northern Ireland Carmel McCavana      Great news was received at the end of January, 1999! The National Lottery Charities Board of Northern Ireland has awarded to NICE a grant of £204,890 (approximately $350,000) to be paid over the next three years. The grant will enable us to completely finish the refurbishment work at our new center in Belfast. We will also be able to buy equipment and furnishings for the center, and employ a full-time worker for three years. The grant will be paid as follows: 63% (£129,100) in the first year when the construction and furnishing will be done; 18% (£37,060) in the second year, and the final 19% (£38,730) in the third year.      The construction and all structural work should be complete by the end of March. The carpeting will be laid, and the equipment and furniture will be moved in by the second week in April. The new worker who will be developing the programs for children, adults and community groups, as well as coordinating volunteer training, should begin work June 1.      All of us were just delighted by the news, which allows us to complete our new headquarters at a faster rate than we had anticipated. We now have a very busy period ahead of us, not just in terms of the building, but in recruiting and selecting young people, adults, and other groups to make use of the fantastic facilities we will have here. We hope that between 5-7,000 people each year will utilize the Belfast center when it is fully operational.      We hope that when any of our friends from America are in Northern Ireland, they will drop in to see the new center, or our wonderful residential center on the Antrim coast in Ballycastle. We have a group of children up to this center every weekend.      Watch for the next NICE newsletter to hear all about the Grand Opening at our new headquarters in Belfast. In Memoriam      Everyone at NICE was saddened by the recent deaths of four of our staunch supporters over the past winter.     Gerard McCrory, father of long time committee member and summer-chaperone Paul, passed away this winter. Our sympathy is with Paul and his family. Paul will be joining us in NY again this summer.      Pete Toner was a great supporter of the NICE program for many years, particularly through the Brehon Law Society, and he will be sorely missed. We extend our sympathy to his wife, Kay, and their children and family.      Agnes Casey, mother of Margaret Concannon, Agnes Finch, James, Joseph, Austin and John Casey, was remembered by many with contributions to NICE.      Katherine McLoughlin, whose family in Cortlandt Manor hosted a child this past summer, really enjoyed participating in the NICE program. Her son and daughter-in-law have become active committee members, and they will be hosting a child again this year.      Many contributions in lieu of flowers were received at NICE by friends and family of these four special people. Their memories are continued every day in the work we do to achieve peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Thanks to all of those who have contributed so generously to the NICE program. NICE TIMES is a publication of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise 344 Main Street, Suite 104 Mount Kisco, NY 10549 (914) 666-6656 (914) 666-9417 fax www.nicekids.org Please call us with any comments, suggestions or questions. Kate Cunningham Executive Director USA Volume 3, Issue 1      Winter 1999 NICE Times Return to Home The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise The mission of NICE is to promote peace, reconciliation and mutual understanding between the communities in Northern Ireland. President McAleese in NICE Company     The first fundraising event for NICE ever held in Ireland, the North-South Friendship Concert sponsored by the Soroptimist Club of North Kildare, was a great success for the organization and for all in attendance.     Her Excellency Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, honored us with her presence for the evening. President McAleese stayed for the entire concert, and chatted with NICE organizers and supporters at intermission and after the show.     Sending his regrets for the evening, and his support for the NICE program, was Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume (see below).     Playing to the standing-room-only crowd were The Millicent Singers, conducted by Michael Weedle. Anne Frain, Peter Whelan and David McNulty performed a trio for oboe, bassoon and piano. Acclaimed flautist Brian Dunning received a rousing ovation for his interpretation of "Moondance" and his dedication to President McAleese of "The Star of the County Down."      The second half of the show was titled Celtic Eclipse, featuring Proinsias Kitt, Áine Kitt Brady, and many others. It was a wonderful showcase of traditional Irish music and dance.      Four specially commissioned watercolors of the four provinces were auctioned off during the intermission. Peter Knuttel's paintings are in the collection of The House of Commons in London and Dail Eireann. In addition to private collections in Australia, Far East and Europe, these paintings now grace the homes of NICE supporters as well.      After the concert, many of the entertainers stayed on for a special performance, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Letter from House of Commons, London     Many thanks for your very kind invitation to attend the concert in the Kildare Hotel & Country Club on 23 October. I am a great supporter of the Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise but, unfortunately, I am unable to attend as I have a Conference that weekend in Ardmore, Co. Derry.     Have a great evening, and continuing success in your excellent work. Yours sincerely, John Hume A Weekend in Ballycastle      It's Friday evening, and the NICE minibus is on its weekly mission to pick up all the participants for this weekend's activities in Ballycastle. This week there are seven boys and seven girls, seven Protestants and seven Catholics, who have been chosen to spend the weekend together. Three mothers are going along to chaperone.     After a one hour drive to the Antrim coast, everyone drops their bags and is assigned a room. The house is a modern, fully-furnished center that could sleep 26. Renovations were completed in 1997, but the house still looks brand new. The renovation had taken the house down to its foundation and then built it back up again. Most bedrooms have two sets of bunk beds. There are eight bedrooms, six bathrooms (four with shower), large living room and dining room areas, and a brand new addition of a 500-square foot playroom.     NICE Assistant Director Bobby Halliday gathers the children for a nighttime foray. The friary and cemetery across the road from our house were built in the 12th century. What a perfect place to tell ghost stories in the moonlight! After a few scary stories, the children have already begun banding together as one group.     After a good night's sleep, the children are ready for Saturday's activities. It's a rainy day, so they go to the indoor ice skating rink just 15 minutes away. With mild Belfast winters, few of the children have ever tried ice skating before, so this is quite an adventure.     After returning to the house, discussion groups focus on ways to improve relationships between the communities.      The next day the group goes to Watertop Farms, just a quick ride on the mini-bus. The scene is truly pastoral driving through the hills dotted with sheep. Hot drinks are served in an old barn, now a museum which shows traditional farming instruments. There are puppies and kittens roaming free, and several stop for a cuddle with the kids. Now it's off for some time in the canoes. There are two canoes attached to each other by boards. Not only does this provide additional stability in the water, it makes it possible for one of the afternoon group exercises, switching boats. The group leaders at Watertop Farm marvel at the teamwork of the children, and are amazed to hear that some have met as recently as Friday night.      After a lunch of sandwiches and sweets, the children complete a survey with their reaction to the weekend and then pack their bags onto the minibus. They are home in Belfast all too quickly getting ready for school on Monday morning. NICE TIMES is a publication of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise 344 Main Street, Suite 104 Mount Kisco, NY 10549 (914) 666-6656 (914) 666-9417 fax www.nicekids.org Please call us with any comments, suggestions or questions. Kate Cunningham Executive Director USA       Fall 1998 NICE Times Return to Home The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise Premier Fundraising Event for NICE in Ireland     We are honored that Ireland's President Mary McAleese has accepted our invitation to attend the first fundraising event for NICE ever to be held in Ireland. It is the North South Friendship Concert, sponsored by Soroptimist International of North Kildare, and will be held on Friday, October 23rd at 8 PM at The K Club in Kildare.     The evening will feature traditional music and singing by the Millicent Singers, Brendan Keneally, and other talented individuals and choral groups.     The concert has been organized by Áine Kitt Brady and members of Soroptimist International, an organization founded in 1921. There are over 3,000 Soroptimist International clubs in 112 countries. Guest Editorial by NICE Spokesman David Feherty     The hatred in Northern Ireland is passed down from generation to generation, as if it were a precious heirloom. People have allowed the events of centuries ago to influence how they feel about their neighbors today. I believe that it is in our children we will find the solution.     Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise has succeeded not only in bringing Protestant and Roman Catholic children together, but remarkably, also their parents. These brave families are the pioneers of peace in the Province, and deserve our support. Much of the money donated in the past to so called "Irish Charities" by well meaning Irish-Americans has served only to finance those misguided individuals who seek to widen the gap between the two communities. Now, we can finally be sure that we are investing in an enterprise that deals only in love and compassion for the little ones, who are the future of Northern Ireland.     NICE has given these children and their parents a glimpse of what that future could be like if they are allowed to live together in the present. Thank you for your support. Golf Outing News     Our 1998 NICE Golf Tournaments raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars for the program, thanks to the hard work of our many committee members. Special thanks go to Mt. Kisco Chairman Mike Del Priore, Naples Chairmen Amby Redmond and Ed Devin, Boston Chairmen John Gallagher, Mark Holland, & Tom O'Donnell, and Mahopac Chairmen Dick Talty and Jerry McCarthy. We are delighted that a fifth outing will be added next year in the Philadelphia area, headed by Chairman Mark Sullivan and Co-Chairman Mike McCloskey of Chartwell Investment Partners, at Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli, PA. on 9/20/99. See page 4 for the schedule of all five 1999 Golf Outings. NICE Opens US Headquarters     Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise has announced the opening of its new headquarters in Mount Kisco, NY. Chairman Donal J. Murphy stated "Due to exceptional growth of the organization within the last year, now is the right time for NICE to establish its own headquarters in the U.S."     From 1979 to 1989, the Irish Children's Summer Program brought together young people from both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland for a six week vacation in New York. In 1989, Don Murphy decided that a summer program alone was not effective enough to promote a deep and lasting impact for reconciliation. Don founded NICE and purchased a house in Ballycastle, County Antrim. Here children who had shared a common experience in the United States were able to maintain a dialogue that could not happen in the segregated streets of Belfast. The house provides a meeting place where children and their families can join together in a secure environment, and continue to build mutual understanding, friendship, and respect. A second facility in Belfast, purchased in January 1998, serves as our headquarters in Northern Ireland. The plans for this facility include an after-school community center throughout the week, as well as other programs still in development. What began as a summer program in the U.S. and expanded to a weekend program in Ballycastle has now become a seven-day per week enterprise.     For the first ten years of the program, management and general expenses were kept to a minimum, as Don Murphy supported the program since its inception using office space and clerical support from his business firm. The new office coordinates fundraising efforts, public relations, and the summer holiday program. Asked if the peace process in Northern Ireland makes NICE less essential, Mr. Murphy replied "Our efforts are needed now as much as ever. Today there is more hope that the dialogue which begins at NICE facilities will continue in Belfast homes." The office was opened in September, 1998. Host Family Feedback      As the families were watching the children board the bus to begin their trip home, and commenting how quickly the summer had flown by, all were handed a questionnaire asking for their input on the summer holiday program. Here are some of their answers. The best part of participating in NICE: "The sense of making a positive difference in a child's life and opening my child's mind to the wider world." "That we were contributing to the overall effort of peace in N. Ireland." "Knowing and wanting to show off some sites [NYC, Broadway, Amish country] made me show my own children things I've put off either because of time or cost. This made me do things I've been wanting to do." "Hearing our visitor say 'Everybody gets along here - I wish everybody got along in Belfast.'" Other comments: "It was a great experience for everyone involved. Friends and neighbors were very impressed with the program." "It was hard at times to juggle schedules, but listening to some of their stories made us realize how lucky people in this country are overall." "Yes, our family benefited from the experience, we learned about life in Belfast and enjoyed her company."     We thank all of our host families for their feedback through questionnaires and at the "de-briefing" meeting held in September. We received many wonderful suggestions, as well as some comments that will strengthen the program.     This year questionnaires were also give to the children on the flight home, and to Belfast parents when the children returned home. Watch for their comments in the next newsletter. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Host Family for the 1999 summer, please give us a call at (914)666-6656. Would you like to see The Lion King on Broadway? Jack Nelan has secured a limited number of tickets for a performance of the Broadway show The Lion King on January 20, 1999. Tickets are for orchestra seats, and are available for a donation of $125 each, of which $50 is a tax deductible gift to NICE.     Just call us at 914-666-6656 if you would like to join us at the show. Report from the Executive Director, Northern Ireland Carmel McCavana     All thoughts this summer have been with the victims and relatives of those injured in the Omagh Bomb in August, and for the three young Quinn children who were burnt to death in a sectarian fire bomb attack in July in Portadown. Never before has there been such an outcry of despair followed by a strength of determination that these events will be the last acts of political violence this community will ever see. It has only made people more committed to working toward a peaceful and just society. We in NICE will continue to help in this respect, by doubling our efforts in bringing people from both communities together. Ireland Funds Exhibition      In June we were asked to participate in The Ireland Funds exhibition in Dublin. We were one of thirty groups The Ireland Funds gave grants to last year who were asked to be part of the exhibition. We put up a display of photographs and work the young people had done in Ballycastle throughout the year. Representatives from all The Ireland Funds worldwide were there, and we met many individuals who took a keen interest in our work. Gregory Peck was there to present The Ireland Funds Literary award, but we didn't get a chance to meet him! Summer Program in Ballycastle     We had a very successful summer program for young people despite the absolutely wretched weather. It was so wet that we couldn't canoe one week - the rivers were too high! However we were very appreciative of our excellent indoor facilities at our center in Ballycastle. The young people spent many happy hours playing games, discussing their hopes and beliefs, and generally making new friends. All of the residentials were staffed by myself or our Assistant Director Bobby Halliday. We were very ably supported by our Youth Volunteers (aged 17 to 21 years) who we recruited and trained during the spring and early summer, preparing them in many aspects of working with young people. They were a great hit with the children. They brought a new and fresh approach to the work with new ideas and vitality! We hope many of them will continue with us over the autumn and winter, studies permitting, so many thanks to them! Belfast Center     The Department of Education has awarded us a grant of £90,000 (about $144,000) toward the capital development of our Belfast center "Australia House". This grant came through a special program set up by the European Community to support the peace process in Northern Ireland, and is one of the largest grants made to a group like ours, so we are naturally very pleased. Work on the reconstruction of the center will hopefully begin the next few weeks. We plan to provide facilities here for young people, parents and volunteers to get together and develop understanding and friendships through programs aimed at promoting reconciliation and anti-sectarianism. This will be an extension to the work already started at our residential center in Ballycastle and will give young people the opportunity to meet more regularly throughout the week. Australian High Commissioner Visit      The Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Philip Flood and his wife Carole, came to see our new center in Belfast on a recent trip to Northern Ireland. This was a great honor for NICE. They spent some time talking to some of our volunteers, parents and young people, hearing about our work first hand. They were impressed by what they saw and were delighted that we had called the house "Australia House" as a tribute to the grant we received from the Australian Ireland Fund. 1998 Summer Program Pictured at left is the Davidson family as they meet their visitor, Deborah Watson, with over fifty other families at Kennedy High School on July 3, 1998. The children arrived just in time for fourth of July celebrations. The next weekend was the annual NICE picnic, where the children enjoyed the activities organized by Larry and Pat McCrudden, and the barbeque prepared by Chef Tom Collins. It was a wonderful day for the families involved with the program to get to know each other. The chaperones who had come over from Northern Ireland also had a chance to see the children again. Two weeks later the NY Yankees generously donated 200 tickets for our families to enjoy a game together. Time seemed to have flown by, as we watched the children board the bus back to the airport on Aug. 7. This year we had only six medical cases, including an appendectomy! But all in all it was a great experience. One family summed it up when they told us "It was probably the best summer we ever had!" GOLF TOURNAMENTS UPCOMING IN 1999 Monday, February 22 The Second Annual NICE Golf Outing at Pelican Marsh Golf Club in Naples, FL. Thursday, June 10 The Eleventh Annual NICE Outing at Mount Kisco Country Club, NY Monday, July 19 The Seventh NICE Annual Boston Outing at Wollaston Country Club in Milton, MA Monday, August 9 The Eighth Annual NICE Putnam Outing at Mahopac Golf Club, NY Monday, September 20 First Annual NICE Philadelphia Outing at Waynesborough Country Club in Paoli, PA. For further information, just call NICE at (914) 666-6656       Winter 1998 NICE Times Return to Home The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise Australian Ireland Fund Pledges Support for NICE Belfast House     At their 1997 Garden Party in Sydney, Australia, The Australian Ireland Fund announced that the major activity they are supporting this year is NICE. The Fund will be providing an initial grant of AUD $150,000 as the foundation sponsor, and $50,000 for each of the next three years. In honor of their multi-year commitment to sponsor the house, it will be named Australia House.     NICE Chairman Donal Murphy and his wife Mary Jo traveled to Australia to attend the event. Speakers on the program were John O'Neill, Chairman of The Australian Ireland Fund, Kingsley Aikins, CEO of The Ireland Funds, and Carmel McCavana, Executive Director of NICE in Belfast.     Earlier this fall, Charles Curran, Deputy Chairman of The Australian Ireland Fund, accompanied by his wife Eva, and Dr. Maurice Hayes, Chairman of The Ireland Funds' Advisory Committee, visited with Carmel McCavana at our Belfast center. Mr. Curran later remarked: "We were delighted to find a superb organization and are honored and privileged to assist in its success."     The closing on the property was in January, 1998. The house is on Stockman's Lane, near Musgrave Hospital and King's Hall, a neutral, centrally located area where Catholics and Protestants can feel comfortable getting together. In addition to the youth programs, it will serve as an administrative base and our main office in Northern Ireland. David Feherty Joins as NICE Golf Spokesman Will Appear at the Mount Kisco Tournament     Chairman Don Murphy recently traveled to Orlando, Florida to meet with David Feherty, the rising star of CBS television sports commentary. Named to the Top 40 Under 40 by the Irish Echo newspaper, David has proven himself to be a true renaissance man as broadcaster, writer and athlete. When he heard of the work that NICE has been doing for the children of Northern Ireland, he was anxious to lend a hand.     Born in the seaside town of Bangor, County Down, NI, David grew up wanting to be an opera singer before turning his talents to the golf course. He played golf professionally for 21 years, earning ten victories worldwide and over $3 million in prize winnings. He presently lives near Dallas, Texas with his wife Anita and their children Shey and Rory, Fred and Karl.     In his role as golf commentator, his knowledge of the game combined with his storytelling ability and sharp with have brought him to the forefront of the field. David is also a featured columnist for both iGolf and Golf Magazine.     David will be with us for the Mount Kisco Tournament on June 4. David joins a devoted cadre of volunteers who have been running Golf tournaments for our charity for over ten years. The first NICE Golf Tournament was held at the Mount Kisco Country Club in 1989. Our current chairman is Mike Del Priore of J. & W. Seligman & Co., who tells us he wants "to contribute something back to my Irish American heritage, and doing something for children is ideal. I believe in this cause, and always enjoy working with my good friends Jack and Don. I plan to continue in this role for as long as I can." Corporate Sponsors Thanks to the following corporations for their generous donations to NICE Golf Tournaments: Dan Dooley Rent a Car Great Southern Hotels Fugazy Travel Jury's Hotel Ballsbridge Dublin Killeen House Hotel in Killarney Westinghouse Communities, Inc. Spaulding Host Families Needed This year the children arrive at Kennedy Airport on Friday, July 3 for their holiday, and return home to Northern Ireland on Thursday, August 6, 1998. If you or someone you know is interested in being a Host Family for the 1998 summer, please give us a call!       Summer 1997 NICE Times Return to Home The Newsletter of Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise Grant News We are pleased to announce the receipt of £143,000 from the Department of Education of Northern Ireland (DENI). Grant applications are pending with the American Ireland Fund, the International Fund for Ireland and the Irish Youth Foundation. Ballycastle Center Our house has been renovated and is now a modern, up to date facility. The house is ideally set up to further the program's goal to help young people breakdown the barriers of prejudice. We were able to pay for this renovation by using the DENI grant which required the program to fund 25% of the cost of the rehabilitation. Assistant Executive Director Bobby Halliday has been appointed to this new position in Belfast. He will assist Carmel McCavana and comes to us after many years experience working with children's programs in Northern Ireland. The DENI grant will fund 75% of his salary for the next three years. New Brochure A new brochure has been designed, produced and donated by McCann-Erickson in Belfast. We also have a "corporate" presentation brochure that is available if you can assist us in grant solicitation from foundations or corporations. Host Families We are pleased to report that the youngsters from Belfast will arrive in New York on July 3. Because of the significant increase in the number of volunteer host families, we are able to bring 40 children to the United States this year. Future Plans The exterior of the house in Ballycastle needs to be painted. Furniture, appliances & recreation equipment must be acquired. These and other miscellaneous items are budgeted for £25,000. We are also looking into acquiring a center in Belfast to begin a week night program for youngsters. The NICE Calendar Summer 1997: June 5 Golf & Tennis Outing, Mt. Kisco, NY July 3 N.I. Children arrive in the U.S. from Belfast July 19 Picnic for children & host families in Putnam, NY July 21 Golf Tournament, Wollaston Golf Club, Milton, MA August 4 Golf Tournament, Mahopac, NY August 6 N.I. Children return to Belfast from the U.S. February 23, 1998 Golf & Tennis Outing, Naples, FL