The project has developed since then, the economy has improved and the project has obtained financial support from the government and from international resources. Nevertheless, the basic idea of the project remains the same, to integrate children from the opposing parties in areas of conflict, to make them learn about each other's culture, to create a common ground.

The procedure is to invite for instance a school class from each side, and often of each gender, to stay at the property in the Republic of Ireland. All kinds of events are arranged in order to make the children focus on something other other than their cultural background. They play football, hold writing courses and have discussions on different subjects, any topic goes except politics.

"We want the children to come here and meet on a neutral ground. We want them to make friends, to play and to talk about the weather," says Eamon Colman. "The parents come to the place and watch their young ones make friends with children from the opposing side. The parents may realize that their own hatred is too deeply rooted, but they want to give their children a chance to break the pattern."

Eamon Colman realizes the difficulties of resolving the conflicts. "We cannot change a hatred overnight that was founded 800 years ago and has been growing ever since. However, if we can make the people who come to our school give their children the liberty to interact with the opposing side, we will have taken a step towards a better understanding," Colman believes.

Other similar projects in Ireland have been implemented and now the focus is not only on children from Ireland, but on children from other areas of conflict as well. Palestinian and Israeli children have been invited to come and stay with children from Northern Ireland, giving them an opportunity to see that their situation is far from unique. "Is your dog deaf?" is one of the questions these children ask each other. Talking about deaf dogs, a common occurrence in areas which have been subjected to bombing, helps the children relate to one another on a basis of mutual experience instead of focusing on the differences. Creating a common ground is paving the way towards an improved cultural understanding.