All About Cork: Spirit of Mother Jones Festival returns this July 

Spirit of Mother Jones Festival on July 25-27

The launch of the 2024 Spirit Mother Jones Festival be showcased by the performance of the Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir, who will give a rendition of Ukrainian songs interspersed with Irish ones at the Madron Hotel Shandon on July 1 at 1pm.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle, will perform the official launch having been piped to the stage by legendary Cork piper Norman O’Rourke accompanied by Cork’s own Mother Jones, Joan Goggin who might also supply a song or two.

The 13th annual Spirit of Mother Jones festival takes place from Thursday July 25 until Saturday July 27 inclusive. It will again celebrate the life of Cork born Mary Harris, known the world over as Mother Jones who devoted her life to the cause of the trade union and to fighting injustice.

James Nolan of the Cork Mother Jones Committee said: “This 2024 festival promises to be something else entirely, with the arrival in Cork of singer Carla Gover and her band Cornmaiz from Kentucky high up in the Appalachians where Mother Jones is still revered.

“We also have the Irish premiere of a new American documentary on Mother Jones, called Fight Like Hell: The Testimony of Mother Jones, written and produced by Kaiulani Lee, who performed at this festival in 2015.

“We are delighted to host the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Mt Owen Reidy in Shandon, which reflects in the modern era the influence of Mother Jones and honours her own commitment to the American trade union movement over 100 years ago.

“We have close to 30 events over the three days of the festival, quite an achievement for a voluntary community effort. All events are free and we operate on a first come, first seated basis.

“I want to acknowledge all our volunteers, our speakers, singers, musicians, the Maldron Hotel and Dance Cork Firkin Crane, our sponsors. This year’s festival will represent a huge effort but we will certainly celebrate the achievements of Mother Jones in her native place.” The festival will include talks, films and documentaries, music, singing and walks.

Those due to appear for talks include Liz Gillis, Anne Twomey, Owen Reidy, John Barry, Walaa Sabah, Julianna Minihan, Jack Lane, Luke Dineen, Adrian Kane, Peter Foynes, Fiona O’Rourke, Niamh Guiry, Claudia Hihetah, Dearbhla Richardson and many more.

Mr Reidy, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will speak on the topic ‘The Future World of Work and the place of Trade Unions’ on Saturday, July 27 at 11.30am.

This will be of interest to all union members and union activists. Mr Reidy was appointed general secretary of the ICTU in October 2022, having begun his trade union career in SIPTU in 1998.

Music at the festival will be provided by The Cork Singers Club, Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford, Carla Gover and Cornmaiz (Kentucky) John Nyhan, Norman O’Rourke, Martin Leahy.

See all latest news and the full programme on www.motherjonescork.com.

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