26 Jun Looking Back: The Ulster Project’s Impact on McPherson County
In the summer of 2012, McPherson County welcomed six students from Northern Ireland as part of the Ulster Project, an initiative aimed at building bridges between Catholic and Protestant teens from Northern Ireland. During their stay, the students experienced life in a small American town and engaged with the local community through service, learning, and cultural exchange.
While in McPherson County, the students attended city meetings, met with community members, and volunteered with local organizations. Their visit wasn’t just a summer adventure, it was part of a broader mission to foster peace and understanding by removing teens from environments where religious and cultural divisions are more entrenched.
Founded in 1975, the Ulster Project was created to promote reconciliation between Catholic and Protestant youth by bringing them together in American towns where such divides are less prevalent. The idea is simple but powerful: by removing teens from familiar pressures and prejudices, they can connect through shared experiences and friendship.
McPherson County hosted the Ulster Project from 2007 to 2019, with support from local organizations, including the McPherson County Community Foundation. In 2012, the participating students, Nial Maguire, Stuart Best, Adam Stevenson, Iarlaith Hendron, Megan Robinson and Maren Hansen, gained firsthand insight into American nonprofit work and had the opportunity to give back.
Focus on Food Programming
Each year, Ulster Project participants choose a community service initiative to support. In 2012, the students selected the McPherson Summer Lunch Program, working alongside American teens to pack and distribute meals for local children. They also raised funds for the program by collecting donations during the Fourth of July fireworks show at Wall Park.
The students extended their service by volunteering with Steps Against Poverty in McPherson County (STEPMC), where they helped prepare and serve a group meal. That event also hosted 35 visitors from around the country who came to learn more about STEPMC’s model in action.
Breaking Barriers Through Dance
The Irish students also organized the sixth annual Disability Supports/Ulster Project dance. The event aimed to break down stereotypes and foster inclusion. Adam Stevenson reflected on the experience, saying that the dance and other interactions helped him realize how much people have in common, regardless of their backgrounds or 
abilities.
Why They Joined the Ulster Project
“I wanted to get involved because I wanted to experience American life and make new friends,” said Iarlaith Hendron. “Now that I’m here, I can’t imagine my life without it.”
“I’ve seen presentations at school and heard so many great stories about the Ulster Project, so I just had to be part of it,” Megan Robinson said. “It’s the most incredible thing I’ve done in my life.”
“My friends had done the project before, and I noticed a positive change in them,” said Maren Hansen. “I’m having a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”