HIV advocate to receive Spirit of Mother Jones Award in Cork today

Social justice advocate Arthur Leahy, who devoted considerable energy to the promotion of gay rights and supporting those impacted by HIV/Aids, has been named as this year’s recipient of the Spirit of Mother Jones Award as the Mother Jones Festival and Summer School opens in Cork today.

Mr Leahy will be presented with the award by Cork Mother Jones Committee chairman James Nolan at a presentation ceremony to be held after Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy performs the official opening of the three-day event at the city’s Maldron Hotel.

Mr Nolan said the Cork Mother Jones Committee was “pleased” to present the 2025 award to Arthur Leahy.

“Arthur has been active in this city for almost 50 years in a practical way as an advocate of social justice, inclusivity, and fairness in society,” said Mr Nolan.

“He has devoted considerable effort to the promotion of gay rights, and was involved in the organising of the first Irish National Gay Conference in Cork as far ago as 1980.

“Arthur played an important role in supporting those impacted by the HIV/Aids epidemic in the 80s, and was directly involved in numerous roles in establishing the Quay Co-op and The Other Place LGBT Community Centre in Cork. These provided vital infrastructural bases for progressive people to meet and organise to fight the social and equality campaigns of the 80s/90s and beyond.

“He has provided inspirational leadership in many campaigns and leads by practical example.”

Mr Leahy’s role in establishing the gay rights movement in Cork; his initiative in helping along with others set up the Quay Co-op on Sullivan’s Quay in the early 80s, a venue which became a safe haven and base for many campaign groups; and his personal activism and leadership on many issues such as the divorce and same-sex marriage referenda were cited on the official citation for the award.

Also cited were his active roles over several decades on behalf of the people of Palestine and his “quiet practical efforts to foster a co-operative spirit among people working progressive campaigns” which succeeded in creating a a more tolerant and fairer society. This element of his role had the effect of establishing a community approach which was “sustainable and environmentally sound”.

Mr Leahy was described as guiding the next generation of social activists to make Cork and Ireland a better place for all.