Mother Jones and her Children.
4:00 p.m. Friday 26th July, Maldron Hotel. Produced by Frameworks Films and Cork Mother Jones Committee.
This film tells the story of Mary Harris (1837 – 1930) from Cork who went on to become known as “the most dangerous woman in America”. Starting with her early years in Cork, the documentary goes on to detail her life in America following the famine, her marriage to George Jones and the birth of her four children. It details the tragedies which befell her. Her growing involvement in the labour movement in America, defending the rights of children and workers is documented. Through interviews with leading experts on Mother Jones, we learn of her fearless and tireless campaign to organise workers at a time of severe labour strife and her international legacy today. Produced by Frameworks Films and the Cork Mother Jones Committee in 2014. Runtime is 52 minutes.
March of the Innocents
5:00 (approx) Friday 26th July, Maldron Hotel Shandon. Produced by Kymme Patrick and Theatre Works.
In this film production we are introduced to Mother Jones (Kymme Patrick) and listen to the children who work in the mines, mills and factories of America in the early 1900s. The bleak dead eyes of the children betray the sense of tiredness and hopelessness of children, who have lost their childhood and are confined to daily slavery.
Enter Mother Jones who exposes the horrible world experienced by these children to a wider public and which is eventually declared illegal. Jones organises the remarkable March of the Mill Children in July 1903 from Pennsylvania to New York, which generates sufficient publicity to raise a wider awareness of child labour, leading to its eventual abolition. Kymme Patrick in this Theatre Works production recreates the sad and sick lives of these innocent children who are working to generate even more wealth for the wealthy. March of the Innocent leaves a lasting impression on viewers. Run time 23 minutes.
Mother Jones, America’s Most Dangerous Woman
Friday 26th July at 5.40 p.m. approx at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon.
Rosemary Feurer & Laura Vazquez.
Mother Jones: America’s Most Dangerous Woman is a documentary about the amazing labour heroine, Mary Harris Jones, known as Mother Jones. Mother Jones’ organising career influenced the history of early 20th century United States. She overcame class and gender limitations to shape an identity that allowed her to become an effective labour organiser in the early 20th century. Mother Jones transformed personal and political grief and rage about class injustices into an effective persona that led workers into battles that changed the course of history. The terrible conditions and labour oppression of the time motivated her to traverse the country, in order to organise against injustices. This film also gives a deeply moving account of the Ludlow Massacre. This is a film by Rosemary Feurer and Laura Vazquez. Release Date 2007 (Canada). Its runtime is 24 minutes.
