The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh next week will welcome 160 Irish youth and leaders to take part in the POINTER Program, a police, youth, and community engagement project. The trip is part of an effort to mend relations between the public and law enforcement officials in Northern Ireland after decades of conflict.
James Lamb, president of the institute, said for many years several communities throughout Ireland saw the police as the enemy.
"Sometimes that conflict has created animosity even towards official authorities of Northern Ireland, especially the police. So, over that 30-40 year period, there were many communities in Northern Ireland that had no trust, or no confidence in policing, in police authority," Lamb said.
Lamb added the city has much to offer in helping Ireland and highlighted Pittsburgh's special ties to the country. "We are lucky to have the Irish Ambassador or the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland in our own Dan Rooney, who's been serving there under President Obama for the past three and a half years," Lamb said.
Officer Ruairi Cousins, an eight-year veteran of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, will be leading the group. Cousins is from Newry, Ireland, the same town where Rooney's ancestors lived.
During their week-long visit, Lamb said the group will be attending morning presentations and demonstrations from Pittsburgh Police officers and other emergency personnel as well as engaging in various police-supported programs along with Pittsburgh youth.
"One of the things that this group, these various groups are going to visit is the Urban Farms that operate out of the Hill House up in the Hill District, and there are young people from Pittsburgh of all ages involved in that program," Lamb said.
The young visitors will also be enjoying local recreational activities including visits to Kennywood Amusement Park, Sandcastle Water Park and the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe.