‘Music is universal, it can unite young people’

“Our orchestra shows how the two communities can come together through music.”

The passion of 15-year-old Cara is written all over her face as she takes her handmade violin from its case.

She is one of the youngest musicians in the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland.

Cara and more than100 other young musicians have been rehearsing in Dundalk, in the Republic of Ireland, ahead of a series of concerts.

Cara, from County Down, plays in the strings section of the orchestra that emerged out of the Northern Ireland peace process.

It was set up in 1995, a year after republican and loyalist paramilitaries announced ceasefires.

This followed more than a quarter of a century of violence in Northern Ireland.

Cara shared her story as the Northern Ireland winner of BBC Young Reporter Competition.

You can find stories by other young people online at: bbc.co.uk/youngreporter.

Video journalist: Niall McCracken