Utah Ulster Project brings Northern Ireland Catholics and Protestants together

Friday, Jul. 29, 2016

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Ulster Project paired 12 Northern Ireland Catholic and Protestant teens with an equal number of Utah teens to help build peace by weakening religious divisions. Although various peace accords in the Northern Ireland region have helped establish a peace and reconciliation process, sporadic violence and religious segregation continues.

The six boys and six girls from Omagh in Northern Ireland arrived in Utah June 23; they returned July 23. The Ulster Project is hosted in about 20 cities throughout the United States; it was established in 1975 with the goal of ending the sectarian troubles that have plagued Northern Ireland for decades. 

Utah Ulster Project began in 1985 when Judy Wight, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saw the need to bring Protestants and Catholics together. The all-volunteer project focuses on peace and understanding.

“It is heartwarming each year to watch these young people get to know each other as just people, rather than by other labels,” said Michael O’Brien, Utah Ulster Project president. The teens do so through social activities, camp outs, interfaith church services, discussions and service projects for the local community. 

This year the group discussed the Nobel Peace Prize winners from 40 years ago, O’Brien said. “Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan from Northern Ireland were not lofty, divinely-inspired saints awaiting canonization; their actions are remarkable because they were average ordinary people who came to understand one basic principle: The solution to each and every human conflict is to be found in the simple and obvious action of someone taking the first step on the road to reconciliation and cooperation.”

Adult counselors from Omagh and Utah guide the teens in their activities, some of which included assisting the elderly at St. Joseph Villa, putting on a talent show and visiting the Salt Lake Humane Society of Utah. 

Erin and Adam Dahlberg have been counselors in Utah for two years. Being involved is rewarding because “the teens grow and change as individuals; they become more comfortable with themselves, push themselves to talk to people and do things that they wouldn’t normally do,” said Adam Dahlberg. “By the end of the month there is an ease to the way they act.” 

Lynn Watson participated in the Ulster Project when she was 15, and has returned as a counselor. She enjoyed getting to know the American culture and seeing Utah, she said. A Protestant from Omagh, she had Catholic friends at home by being involved in a community choir and hockey league.

“I actively entered into those friendships,” she said. 

As a counselor, Watson helped organize meetings so the teens could get to know each other before they came to Utah and do fundraising activities.

John Paul Murray, a Catholic from Omagh, has enjoyed experiencing things he wouldn’t normally do in Ireland, he said. 

“If Catholics and Protestants interact in Northern Ireland, people start hating on you; the schools are segregated,” he said. “I think it’s just that we’ve been told to hate each other; it’s not like Protestants have done anything. I’ve also enjoyed meeting Catholics of a different culture.”

Andrew Colgan, another Catholic teen from Omagh, said for him, the tension and segregation isn’t as extreme as it was in the past based on religion. “I definitely see a lot of people of different religions who are friends. Other people don’t believe that Catholics and Protestants can get along. Actually, they have very similar views; it’s not about the religion, it’s the person’s own beliefs.” 

Colgan participated in the Ulster Project because he heard it was an “amazing experience,” he said. 

“The most interesting part has been meeting people with different backgrounds. I’ve never been abroad and seeing the mountains is really cool; I like the weather here.” 

Danielle Ulloa’s sister participated in the Utah Ulster Project and suggested it for her, she said. Ulloa is from St. Andrew Parish in Riverton. She likes the teamwork and having a roommate and new friend from Omagh, she said. 

The Utah Ulster Project is a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Thomas Micklos, a Protestant from Utah. “I’ve enjoyed doing the activities with my new friends.”