Some Photos from the Ulster Project - 1999

The city in which we live, Kingsport, TN, has partnered with a "sister city" in Northern Ireland to participate annually in the Ulster Project. The Ulster Project strives to promote peace in Northern Ireland by providing an opportunity for Northern Irish teenagers (14, 15, 16 years of age) of both the Protestant and Catholic faiths to get to know each other while visiting with American teens. These young people from both sides of the Atlantic and their host families learn a great deal about each other and about themselves during the 1 month duration of the Project. This is the second year my family has participated (my daughter last year, my son this year). Has it been a rewarding and culturally expanding experience? Aye! It's been grand!

Here's the entire group of 24 teens and four counselors after worship at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church. The group consists of 12 teens from Limavady, Northern Ireland and their American hosts and is equally divided by faith (Protestant/Catholic) and by gender.

Just the girls at the "fly-in". Local pilots provided rides in their planes for the teens and their host families. Some of the more interesting aircraft were a restored 1940 Stearman biplane, a 1941 J23 Cub and an experimental plane powered by a 550cc "jetski" engine.

Andrew and friends preparing for a ride in a light aircraft. On most flights in the more modern planes like this one, the front seat passenger got to "drive" for a wee bit.

One of several lake parties. Almost everyone has learned to waterski! Because it is so much warmer here than at home, the Limavady teens really fancy the lake parties. They say they are "brilliant"

Three Amigos - Darrell, Joe and Conan

All in the Family - Nancy, Jim, Andrew, Joe and Jamie

Are we having fun yet? Counselors Mary (Kingsport) and Elizabeth (Limavady)

The "Dynamic Duo" - Kingsport host, Joe and our guest from Limavady, Andrew. Which one is Batman and which is Robin?

Oh by the way, it's okay for the adults to have fun too!