Nula McNulty is a lifelong resident of North Leitrim, Ireland, who returned home in 2003 after years working on Ireland’s east coast and two years in China as a food technologist. Raised on a mixed farm near the Northern Ireland border, she grew up during the Troubles with a father from the North and a mother from the South. Her upbringing instilled in her a strong sense of inclusivity, social conscience, and respect for others regardless of religion, politics, or background.

Living near the border deeply shaped her understanding of conflict. As a child, crossing into Northern Ireland meant passing through multiple military and police checkpoints—an experience she accepted at the time but later recognized as extraordinary. She recalls both the deep divisions and the gradual healing that followed, particularly through integrated schools, cross-border initiatives, and community-based projects.

Nula believes peace requires communication, acknowledgment of harm, and sustained relationship-building. She has seen healing happen when people work side by side—through women’s groups, cross-border arts projects, and community campaigns. For her, the process of collaboration matters more than the finished product; shared work creates understanding and dissolves “othering.”

Nula sees prejudice as an ongoing challenge but insists the work of peace is never finished. True progress, she says, comes from listening, acknowledging pain on all sides, apologizing where necessary, and respecting both people and the natural world. Ultimately, she believes respect—for oneself, for neighbors, and for the environment—is the foundation of peace. Love, she says, is easier and more sustaining than hate.

Credits:

Photos and text, John Noltner
Field production, summer interns Kate West, Sawyer Garrison, and Kaitlin Imai
Audio Engineering, Razik Saifullah

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