All About Cork: Mother Jones festival was an outstanding success

That's it for another year in the Shandon area as a hugely popular festival that draws visitors from near and far drew to a close. It is one that will be long remembered.

As singer Martin Leahy sang his new powerful song 'Mother Jones" at the Mother Jones Plaque at a packed John Redmond Street on Saturday evening it signalled the end of an emotional thirteenth Spirit of Mother Jones Festival in and around Shandon. 

The three day festival had been an outstanding success and brought song, colour, levely debate and a great degree of emotion to the local area.

Spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee said: "The presentation of the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Award to the people of Palestine as represented by Ms Zeina Alazzeh the official representative of the embassy of the State of Palestine in Ireland was a deeply fulfilling event. 

"After hearing the speakers at the Voices of Palestine earlier, it was an honour to do so as a simple gesture of support and friendship on behalf of many Cork people to a suffering community.

The 2024 festival was a huge success, it included singers from the Ukraine, musicians from the Appalachian mountains, speakers from Palestine, from Ghana, from Northern Ireland and the UK, along with speakers from all over Ireland, the international dimensions of the festival have grown significantly. 

"We are delighted that the community of Shandon has welcomed people from all over the world to this Spirit of Mother Jones festival and to Cork City. Yet the traditions of Cork singing as represented by the Cork Singers' Club, John Nyhan and Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford were also to the fore.

"I wish to thank everyone who participated, who sang, and who helped in any way especially with sponsorship.

"This festival represents a growing 'Meitheal' or gathering of people who contribute to making it such a friendly and welcoming event and we are looking forward to next year already."

Install drains in Blackpool ahead of winter, says Gould

Local Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould has called for drains to be installed to tackle flooding in Blackpool ahead of the flood-relief plan.

Mr Gould told The Echo: “I have written to Cork City Council, requesting Euro Drains be considered at the New Furniture Store and other key locations in Blackpool that see frequent flooding. While there is a flood-relief plan for Blackpool, this is a longer-term idea. 

We need to see intervention now to prevent flooding in the autumn and winter in Blackpool. Last year saw severe flooding in Blackpool and some minor floods.

“These drains could be a temporary solution to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Businesses and homes shouldn’t be afraid when they see heavy rainfall. This has gone on for years in Blackpool and is just another symptom of government neglect of the village and surrounding area. 

We need to see real investment in Blackpool. These drains would benefit the community and the local economy. They would give people peace of mind when there are heavy rains.”

New priest welcomed

The parish said goodbye to one priest and welcomed another in the past week.

The parish said: “This weekend is a weekend of change for some parishes in the diocese of Cork and Ross, including the cathedral family of parishes.

“Every good wish to Fr Kevin O Regan, co-PP, as he moves to Skibbereen to take up his new appointment at the family of parishes of Aughadown, Castlehaven and Myross, Kilmacabea, Rath and The Islands and Skibbereen, as co-PP and moderator.

“We welcome Fr Kieron O’Driscoll, as he takes up his new appointment as co-PP of the cathedral family of parishes.

“We thank Fr Kevin O Regan for his service to our family of parishes here and we send our best wishes to him as he moves to Skibbereen to take up his appointment.

“Fr Kieron will be resident in the South Parish. He was educated at St Finbarr’s College, Farranferris, St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth, Co Kildare, and University College Cork. He was ordained in 1986.

“Fr Kieron’s previous appointments were as teaching chaplain, Rossa College, Skibbereen; teaching chaplain, Nagle Community College, Mahon; The Cork and Ross Mission to Ecuador, South America, The Cork and Ross Diocesan Youth Ministry. Fr Kieron served as parish priest to Ballinhassig, Co Cork, as chaplain to Munster Technical University, Cork, and chaplain to Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital.

GAA club celebrates 75th

Delanys GAA have a fundraiser to mark their 75th anniversary.

The club has several underage teams and is encouraging locals and supporters to get involved in the event on Friday, August 30, at Blarney golf course.

Contact Conor on 086 3792606 if you would like to sponsor a tee box or have any other questions.

Have Blackpool news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie