All About Cork: Celebrations and fun at Shandon Street Festival

Spirit of Mother Jones

The Spirit of Mother Jones festival for 2025 will have its formal launch in Shandon on Friday July 4, at the Maldron Hotel. The Lord Mayor of Cork has been invited to do the honours.

The festival and summer school will consist of talks, discussions, songs, music, and films.

The 14th annual festival itself will commence on Thursday July 24, and continue for three days and nights until Saturday evening July 26. There are 22 events planned, all are free to the public on a first come first seated basis. The events will be held in the Dance Cork Firkin Crane and the Maldron Hotel.

James Nolan, spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee told The Echo: “We want to welcome everyone to this unique festival and summer school to celebrate the American Trade union leader Mother Jones, born Mary Harris in 1837 in the local community.

“This year we have participants from the United States, Mexico, the Ukraine, the UK, Palestine, and Argentina as well as Ireland in what has become a truly international festival.

“Speakers will include the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajiid, UK trade union leader, Mick Lynch, Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mineworkers Union of America on Zoom, Mike Allen of Focus Ireland, as well as historians Anne Twomey, Luke Dineen, and Jack Lane. The Gaza Monologues will be performed at the Firkin Crane.

“The SIPTU trade union will show the new documentary by Alan Gilsenan James Connolly, in what should be a special occasion. Cork Singers’ Club, Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford, Martin Leahy, Dee Power while US labour singer George Mann performs in Cork for the very time.

“Blanca Rice of Fermoy will tell the powerful and inspirational story of her father Pat Rice who was imprisoned by the Argentinian Junta in 1976. The Spirit of Mother Jones award for 2025 will also be announced. This will be an incredible festival, so do not miss it,” Mr Nolan added.

Details can be found on motherjonescork.com

Are you attending your debs/grads this year? Cathedral Credit Union is runniing a competition to win €500 towards the cost by entering its debs/grads draw by June 30.

See cathedralcu.ie for more details on how to enter.

Community centre number

Blackpool Community Centre’s phone number has changed. Contact the centre now on 089 4013274 or 089 2621883.

Tidy Village update

Blackpool Tidy Village was hard at work again last week adding yet more colour to the area.

The group said on Facebook: “Our brilliant volunteers were out doing super work around Blackpool. Many thanks to Anna, Victoria, Teresa, Tony, Mark, Kevin, Denis, Chris M, and Jim. More flower planters painting on The Plaza and, wow, what a difference that’s making. Not forgetting Tony and Jim who did trojan work litterpicking too.”