Ballinahown's Megan is taking part in US peace conference

The granddaughter of a Moate man who was killed by the IRA during the rescue of kidnapped supermarket boss Don Tidey over 40 years ago will join young people from all over the world whose lives have been affected by terrorism at a special conference in the US this week.

18-year-old Megan Kelly from Ballinahown is one of three Irish people to take part in a week-long Project Common Bond conference camp in Stockport, Massachusetts, organised by the Dignity Beyond Borders organisation. She is the granddaughter of Pte. Patrick Kelly, who was just 36 years of age and the father of four young sons when he was shot and killed in Leitrim during the rescue of Don Tidey. Garda Gary Sheehan, from Carrickmacross in Monaghan, was also shot dead during the horrific incident on December 16, 1983.

Since 2008, Project Common Bond has brought together young people from around the world, who have experienced a loss of a family member due to terrorism, war, or mass violence. Working together, the participants build skills in managing conflict, building empathy, and learning leadership skills. Over 1,300 young adults from 37 nations have participated in the healing and peace-building programme since its establishment.

Megan Kelly, who has just completed her Leaving Certificate, says her family has campaigned for justice ever since her grandfather was murdered, but points out that “to this day justice has never been served in a court of law.” She says the Northern Ireland Troubles directly affected her family, and managing the loss of her grandfather has been “very hard” on her father and uncles. “We are still dealing with the consequences of his loss today, and I was denied known my grandfather because of the Troubles.”

Megan's father, Sgt Andrew Kelly, along with David, Michael and Patrick Jnr were the four sons of Pte. Kelly and his wife, Catherina. He went on to join the Military Police in the Defence Forces where he has 20 years of service. Megan eldest brother, Private Ethan Kelly, is also a serving member of the Irish Defence Forces, while her younger brother and sister, Eoin and Lilly are still at school.

All the young adults attending the Project Common Bond in Stockbridge, Massachusetts are drawn from families directly bereaved by terrorism. Megan Kelly will join Zara McAnerney, the niece of Terence McKeever who was murdered by Provisional IRA terrorists on June 26, 1986 in south Armagh and Nathan Carson, the grandson of Cpl Herbie Kernaghan, who was murdered by The Provisional IRA in the Rosslea area of south east Fermanagh in 1979 at the conference in the US.

The conference got underway yesterday, Sunday, June 29, and continues until Saturday next, July 5.

The director of the project, Kenny Donaldson, said the aim of the programme is to provide the young adult participants from all over the world with the “building blocks and skills to not only exist within society, but to also thrive.”

He added that this is best achieved when they are informed and led by the truth “not romanticised propaganda” and when they also connect with the principles of “non-violence and being good neighbours, not simply tolerating diversity but actually valuing it.”