'Big Bird' to land in Ireland

The American Ireland Fund is to give $1 million to Sesame Street to produce 26 shows that teach tolerance to Northern Ireland children. The funding follows research which found that children as young as three years old have sectarian beliefs.

The programme is part of Sesame Street's global outreach to politically troubled countries that has seen specially designed shows for children's TV in Kosovo, Palestine and Israel.

American Ireland Fund spokesman Kieran McLoughlin said that Sesame Street had already secured about 40 per cent of funding and that the Fund's finance had secured the project.

The Ireland Funds raises money for charitiable work in Ireland in a number of countries where there is a significant Irish community.