Cork's Mother Jones festival sheds a light on key social issues

The popular Spirit of Mother Jones Festival, which took place over the weekend across the Shandon historic district over the weekend, shone a spotlight on key issues including social justice and human rights,

Now in its 15th year, the festival celebrates the life of Mary Harris, who was baptised in the North Cathedral in August 1837. She emigrated to the US around the Great Hunger period, going on to become the union activist “Mother Jones”.

She is remembered today in many parts of the world for her fight for social and labour justice, along with her efforts to abolish child labour.

The festival, which ran from last Thursday though to Saturday, featured talks, lectures, discussions, singing, dancing and music, as well as films and walks around Shandon.

Keynote speaker

This year’s keynote speaker was Cuban ambassador, His Excellency Bernardo Guanche Hernández, who spoke about life in his home country.

Other speakers included local historian Anne Twomey, who explored the story of the Cummins Sisters of Cork; Cork writer, comedian and political activist, Tadgh Hickey; former Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan, and prominent American trade union leader Sara Nelson who spoke to the festival through Zoom from the US.

The recipient of the 2026 Spirit of Mother Jones award, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, who is president of the Irish Congress of Trade unions (ICTU) and general secretary of The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), spoke about the role trade unions play in strengthen democracy.

Spirit of Mother Jones festival committee member Edward Lahiff told The Echo everyone involved was delighted with this years proceedings.

“We consider it a great success this year, as it has been in other years. From the outset, the aspiration was to celebrate the life and legacy of Mary Harris, or Mother Jones.

“But then also to relate her work and her spirit to contemporary issues in Ireland and internationally,” he said.

“It is always really important that we bring out issues of importance to people today. The festival is rooted in history, but we are very keen to make it relevant to today.”