Mother Jones festival celebrates Cork woman who became a celebrated union activist in the US

The 15th annual Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School will take place around the Shandon Historic District from Thursday, July 23, to Saturday, July 25.

The festival celebrates the life of Mary Harris, who was baptised in the North Cathedral in August 1837 and who emigrated from Cork to the US around the Great Hunger period, going on to become the union activist ‘Mother Jones’.

Today, she is remembered in many parts of the world for her fight for social and labour justice and for her efforts to abolish child labour.

She organised the March of the Mill Children in 1903, a seminal event in the long campaign to remove young children from the mines and mills of America, and ensure they went to school.

Mark of respect

She was named ‘Mother Jones’ by the miners as a mark of respect for her efforts to improve their pay and work conditions over many decades. Her slogan, ‘Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living’, is still used in campaigns and strikes around the world.

The festival will take place over three days and will again consist of talks, lectures, discussions, singing, dancing, and music, as well as films and walks in Shandon.

All are welcome, there is no charge, and no booking is required. However, all events are ‘first come first seated’.

James Nolan, spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones committee, said: “We are delighted to be able to present a wonderful selection of speakers, musicians, and singers for the 15th annual Spirit of Mother Jones here in Shandon.

“While we celebrate the life of local girl Mary Harris, who became Mother Jones, we remember our friends who always attended the festivals, in particular Joan Goggin, known as ‘Cork’s Mother Jones’, as well as Norman O’Rourke, who piped in many lord mayors of Cork to open the various festivals.”

Speakers include Anne Twomey, who will explore the story of the Cummins Sisters of Cork, the five daughters of UCC medicine professor William Edward Cummins, and Jane Constable Hall, who obtained a third-level education and forged independent careers at a time of immense political change in Ireland.

The story of Geraldine Cummins, Mary Hearn, Iris Cummins, Jane Cummins, and Phyllis Hayes, born between 1890 and 1907, will be told on Thursday evening at Dance Cork Firkin Crane. Other speakers will include the president of the Irish Congress of Trade unions (ICTU) and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation leader, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, as well as former Greenpeace activist and MEP Grace O’Sullivan.

Professor Naomi Masheti will speak about migrants being allowed to tell their stories. Songs from the Cork Singers’ Club will again be heard, along with Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir and Club Ceoil Ballyphehane Ballad Group.