Spectacular Launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2023.

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Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy launched the 12th annual Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival this morning at Shandon.

Accompanied by Mother Jones (Joan Goggin), the Lord Mayor was led into the Maldron Hotel, Shandon by Cork piper, Norman O’Rourke. The Lord Mayor praised the efforts of the Cork Mother Jones Committee, which through this annual festival ensures that the extraordinary life of Mother Jones spent in defending social justice, labour rights and fair play for all remains a vital and essential element of democracy to this day.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy with Mother Jones and Norman O’Rourke.

The Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna were our special guests at the spectacular launch and brought the gathering to its feet with several songs from their native land. Accompanied by the Lord Mayor himself, their beautiful version of “Danny Boy” brought a huge response. Folk singer Johnny Nyhan then gave a very poignant rendering of the anti-war song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” which concluded amidst some tears and indeed when will some people ever learn?

Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna.

The event was also graced by the attendance of the Cobh Animation Team and members of Cork Art Link. 

Cork Ukrainian Choir with the Cobh Animation Team

It was a memorable launch to the 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Our thanks to all.

Bogdarra Piasetska (artist), Agata Kozlowska, Liz Cremin, Aaron O’ Connor, Joe Lyons and Olha Davydenko of Cork Art Link.
Cobh Animation Team members, Liz Forrest and Viv Hally.

The Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna will again appear at the formal opening of the festival on Thursday 27th July at 1:00 pm. Do not miss them!

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy with a photograph of the portrait of Mother Jones (Lindsay Hand) following the presentation by Ann Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.

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