All About Cork: 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival dates confirmed

There was a wonderful symmetry at play as Cork’s first citizen visited Chicago to pay tribute to a Cork-born woman who made her mark there.

On November 16 last, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, visited the future site for the erection in 2025 of the sculpture of Mother Jones in the Windy City.

The Lord Mayor had returned on an official visit to the city where he was born and he was welcomed by members of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee along with one of the sculptors, Kathleen Farrell, who are in the final planning stage of erecting this landmark sculpture near the famous Chicago Watertower.

Rosemary Feurer, the Chicago project director who attended the first Mother Jones festival in Cork in 2012, in welcoming the Lord Mayor pointed out that the project of a sculpture of Mother Jones was inspired and initiated following her visit to this festival in Shandon, close to the birthplace and baptism of Mary Harris in Cork.

Mary G Harris Jones was born in 1837 but only became known as Mother Jones from 1897 onwards.

She was an Irish-born American who became a prominent union organiser, community organiser, and activist.

James Nolan, spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee said: “We were surprised and honoured to hear Ms Feurer acknowledge that the Mother Jones festival here in Shandon in 2012 provided the inspiration for her Heritage Committee’s work to erect a magnificent sculpture at the Water Tower to Mary Harris, a girl born and baptised in our community in 1837 who was largely forgotten in the city of her birth.

“I am so proud of everyone here in Cork for preserving the amazing story of Mother Jones through our annual festival, who is now an international icon for the social justice and the labour movement.

“I wish to thank the Lord Mayor of Cork for meeting with the Chicago committee and for his support and goodwill for this project which will see a native of Cork city and an emigrant of the Great Hunger being honoured in a magnificent manner in the Windy City.”

The Cork Mother Jones Committee has announced that the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will take place in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter over three days from Thursday, July 24, to Saturday, July 26.

The Cork Mother Jones committee is asking people to suggest ideas for topics, possible speakers or issues they might wish to see at the 2025 festival.

Proposals should be based on material which is relevant, interesting and challenging and they promise to consider all suggestions.

They should be sent to motherjonescork@gmail.com.

Updates on the festival can be found www.motherjonescork.com

40th anniversary for Blackpool area community centre

Blackpool, Glen, and Farranree Youth Community Training Centre, which has improved the lives of hundreds of people to date, will celebrate 40 years on December 10.

You will have read of the achievements of many of the learners at the centre, including many who have gone on to steady employment and have even opened their own businesses.

The centre has a long history of supporting education pathways on the northside and many learners have gone on to further education, full-time employment, and even started their own businesses.

The centre operates all year round and provides a learner-centred approach to early school leavers in a “stimulating and supportive environment”.

Highly-skilled staff help learners develop their potential, gain nationally recognised qualifications, and progress toward employment.

Courses available include catering, computer applications, multi-skills/woodwork, hairdressing, and retail.

The centre is open to males and females, aged 16 to 21.

Courses are full-time and free.

Training allowances are paid weekly by the Cork Education Training Board and recruitment is continuous.

Earlier this year, learners were honoured at City Hall with awardees receiving certificates in general learning QQI Level 4, information and communication, technology skills QQI Level 4, catering support QQI Level 4, retail skills QQI Level 4, and diploma in hairdressing, VTCT Level 2.

Call 0214395447 or email admin@blackpoolgfctc.ie for details on courses.

The celebrations will kick off on December 10 at 11am.

Look out for pictures from the celebration event on The Echo Blackpool page next month.

Alex awarded community person of the year award

The Joe Sheehan Community Person of the Year 2024, sponsored by Cathedral Credit Union Ltd, was recently awarded to Alex Foley to acknowledge his volunteer work with the Shandon Area Renewal Association (SARA) and the Shandon Tidy Towns Committee over many years.

The award is open to anybody living in the North Cathedral, Middle Parish, Sacred Heart, Sunday’s Well, St Mary’s, Popes Quay, and Blarney St communities.

Manager Eoin Newman said the award is “for ordinary people who, by their voluntary efforts, have made a difference in either a community, sporting, educational, or indeed any field of endeavour. As a community and voluntary organisation, we understand and appreciate the often thankless efforts many people put into community based organisations”.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

Cork Shakespearean Company presents Shakespeare’s comedy of gender confusion at Cork Arts Theatre, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves.

After being separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy and finds employment with the Duke of Orsino, who uses her as a go-between in his attempted wooing of the Lady Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia’s pompous steward, Malvolio, falls prey to a cruel deception on the part of Feste the Jester and the wassailing, ne’er-do-well, Toby Belch.

The show takes place this Thursday to Saturday.

See www.corkartstheatre.com for ticket details or call 021 4505624.

Leeds AFC advertising slots

Ballyvolane’s Leeds AFC recently installed new fencing and are offering advertising opportunities to raise funds for the club.

The advertising signs cost €200 with an annual subscription fee of €200. However, if you book your sign before December 31, the fee is just €300 for both the sign and subscription.

Contact Conor on 087-9201440 or send the club a direct message on Facebook.

Parish lotto jackpot over €11k

The parish lotto jackpot remains at the very tantalising sum of €11,600, with a €400 consolation prize also up for grabs.

You can watch the winners draw today on the Blackpool Facebook page at facebook.com/bbgparish, or on the cathedral Facebook page at facebook.com/corkcathedral.

Blackpool Christmas Market

Blackpool Christmas Market takes place December 6 at the plaza outside the local church. Carol singing, sweet, and savoury treats, knitting, crochet, and Christmas ornaments will all be on offer from 10am to 1pm.

CE role open at The Everyman

The Everyman on MacCurtain St is hiring a maintenence person.

The position is a developmental opportunity on the community employment scheme, no experience necessary. Accredited training will be provided to support your career. It is a temporary position.

Full details here: https://tinyurl.com/bde5vhxk

Have Blackpool, Shandon and Ballyvolane news to share? Contact robert.mcnamara@theecho.ie