The award ceremony took place at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane on Friday evening, 26th July 2024. The award was presented to Miss Zeina Allazzeh, the Research and Policy Officer of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Ireland.
Miss Allazzeh had been nominated by Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid to receive the award on their behalf.
Miss Zeina Allazzeh receiving the award from James Nolan, of the Cork Mother Jones Committee accompanied by Ann Piggott.
The presentation ceremony took place after a public meeting “Stories of Palestine”, which featured speakers, Walaa Sabha, Fiona O’Rourke and Dr. Nick Maynard.
Miss Zeina Alazzeh on behalf of the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland with the Spirit of Mother Jones Award 2024 from the Cork Mother Jones Committee at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane. @Sweeneynmedia.
Response from the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid to the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
The Spirit of Mother Jones Award 2024 at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Dublin.
1:00 p.m. Official opening by Alderman Dan Boyle, Lord Mayor of Cork.
Special appearance by the Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir.
2:30 p.m. Adrian Kane “Union Renewal”
4:00 p.m. Fight Like Hell – The Testimony of Mother Jones.
Documentary written and performed by Kaiulani Lee.
Dance Cork Firkin Crane
7:00 p.m. Liz Gillis
‘Is This What They Fought For? Women And Independent Ireland”
Anne Twomey
“A Dauntless Spirit who went on to fight for women in a country where
they were treated like half-wits” Margaret Goulding Buckley.
Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
9:30 p.m. Cork Singers’ Club.
Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir
Adrian KaneKaiulani Lee with Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John ButtimerLiz Gillis and Anne Twomey.Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle with Cobh Animation TeamFilipe Bustos SierraCork Singers Club
Portrait of Mother Jones by Lindsay HandKaiulani Lee as Mother Jones
Due to unforeseen circumstances, historian Luke Dineen cannot attend the forthcoming festival.
On Saturday evening 27th July 2024 at the Shandon Maldron Hotel at 4:30 pm, local historian Gerard O’Rourke will instead give a talk about his recently published book “Land War to Civil War 1900-1924Donoughmore to Cork and Beyond”.
Gerard O’Rourke.
His book chronicles the growth of nationalism in the period which saw an increasing rise of social, political and cultural awareness in the parish of Donoughmore, which in many ways represents a microcosm of the wider changes transforming the political landscape across the Ireland of the time.
From the visits of Michael Davitt of the Land League and William O’Brien MP to the parish to the dangerous heroics of native daughters Nora and Sheila Wallace during the War of Independence in Cork city, Gerard explores the impacts, local, national and international on the parish. Though these exploits and many others, Gerard O’Rourke provide a vivid account of the political awakening gaining momentum in his parish. This is local history at its best!
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.
Mother Jones and her Children
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.
March of the Innocents. Copyright: Theatre Works.
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.
The Cork Mother Jones Committee wishes to announce that the recipients of the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Award are the People of Palestine.
The award will be presented to Ms Zeina Alazzeh of the Embassy of the State of Palestine at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane on Friday evening 26th July after the “Stories of Palestine” meeting which commences at 7pm.
Ms Alazzeh, the research and policy officer at the Palestinian Embassy, has been nominated by the Ambassador of Palestine to Ireland Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid to accept this award which honours the People of Palestine.
James Nolan spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee stated
“The Cork Mother Jones Committee is pleased to present the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Award to the People of Palestine. We remain honoured by the decision of Ambassador Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid to accept this award on behalf of the State of Palestine.
Although in practical terms an award such as this remains almost a trivial offering, we believe it represents a symbolic and heartfelt gesture of support by many Cork people to an entire population facing genocide.
in that we are recording the fact that human beings everywhere should bear witness to the sufferings of Palestinians.Along with the many thousands of people who have marched through Cork City each week and across Irelandsince October 2023, we wish to also express our support for the People of Palestine by conferring on them the Spirit of Mother Jones Award.”
Accepting the Spirit of Mother Jones Award, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, wrote in her letter to the Cork Mother Jones Committee dated 11th July;
“I am so pleased to accept this award which honours the People of Palestine. During this difficult time and while our people in Palestine are experiencing the highest form of misery and catastrophe, we find a glimmer of hope through the Irish people’s support and solidarity. It is heart-warming that there are still nations that stand up for basic human rights, but sadly this is not the case everywhere.
Mary Harris was a brave mother like thousands of Palestinian mothers who lost their children. It is the loss of a mother’s child, and how she could hold back her grief and despair to create a better life. Her commitment to standing up against injustice holds great values that are reflected in this award and we are honoured to be credited with it”
The Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid
Award citation from the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
The Cork Mother Jones Committee presents the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Award to the People of Palestine:
For their tenacity in surviving the oppression, colonisation and ongoing nightmare of living in an open air prison for the two million people in GAZA since the Israeli blockade began in 2007.
For their resilience to achieve self-determination in an independent State of Palestine and for their efforts to achieve freedom to live as normal human beings
For their determination to highlight the genocide and opposition to plans to ethnically cleansePalestinians from Gaza
For their strength and courage to expose the humiliation being imposed and for calling world attention to prevent the collective punishment being inflicted on the entire population.
For also exposing the attempts at dehumanisation and the starvation of Gaza by the Israeli government.
For their ongoing efforts to draw attention to the failure of large sections of the International community to prevent or condemn this daily massacre taking place in Gaza which has been condemned by the United Nations International Court of Justice.
Previous recipients of the Spirit of Mother Jones Award have included Antoinette Keegan, Mary Manning, Louise O’Keeffe,Fr Peter McVerry, Don O’Leary, Mick Lynch, Gareth Peirce, Ann O’Gorman, Maureen Considine and Catherine Coffey O’Brien, Ken Fleming, Dave Hopper and Margaret Aspinall.
Walaa Sabah, Project Manager of We Are Not Numbers (WANN)
Fiona O’Rourke, Author
Dr Nick Maynard, Surgeon
In attendance: Ms Zeina Alazzeh, Research and Policy Officer, Embassy of the State of Palestine.
Friday 26th July at 7:00 p.m. at Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
Walaa Sabah
Walaa Sabah is the director of operations at We Are Not Numbers (WANN). She works as a freelance journalist. Her articles about the Palestinian situation can be read on MEE, El, Mondoweiss and the New Arab.
Walaa recently spoke at the weekly Cork Palestinian Solidarity Group protest in Cork and described some of the heart breaking individual stories behind the statistics in Gaza.
When the world talks about Palestinians living under occupation and in refugee camps, it is usually in terms of politics and numbers – specifically, how many killed, injured, homeless and/or dependent on aid. However numbers are impersonal and often numbing. What they don’t convey are the daily personal struggles and triumphs, the tears and the laughter, and the aspirations that are so universal that if it weren’t for the context, they would immediately resonate with virtually everyone.
Walaa Sabah speaking in Cork.
The mission of WANN is to create a new generation of Palestinian writers and thinkers who can bring together a profound change to the Palestinian cause to get their voices heard. WANN provides the world with direct access to the Palestinian narrative without any restrictions and without foreign intermediaries speaking on behalf of the Palestinians. To date some 350 contributors have published more than 1300 stories from Palestine.
Fiona O’Rourke
Fiona is a published author from the North of Ireland with recent stories included in Shorter Stories Ireland, Dublin Story Slam, Fortnight Magazine and the Storms Journal. Her creative non-fiction was selected by Munster Lit. and will be published in the Southword Journal in Winter 2024.
A member of the Irish Writers Union, Fiona has designed and facilitated creative writing courses and programmes at Trinity College, Dublin Innovation Academy, Libraries, festivals, in the community and at the Irish Writers Centre Dublin.
Fiona O’Rourke
She is the co-organiser and MC for Open Mic for Gaza Zoom fundraisers and the organiser/facilitator for eXpress Write for Gaza, a writing session fundraiser. All donations raised at these events have gone to the Ghassan Abu Sitta Children’s Fund.
Dr Nick Maynard
Dr Nick Maynard is a senior surgeon at Oxford University Hospital and has worked in Gaza leading an Emergency Medical Team for Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP). MAP’s vision is a future where all Palestinians can access an effective, sustainable and locally-led system of healthcare, and the full realisation of their rights to health and dignity. Through their programmes in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Lebanon, they work with trusted and experienced local partners to achieve this vision. MAP programmes, designed and delivered by Palestinians, provide access to essential health services and build local knowledge and skills to address Palestinian health problems. In times of humanitarian emergency, MAP is ready to respond rapidly with aid and assistance.
Zeina Alazzeh did her master’s degree in International Public Policy and Diplomacy at UCC and as part of her programme, she worked as a research assistant with Dr Andrew Cottey on EU-China relations. Zeina conducted her master’s thesis on the role of the EU and China in East Africa. She also worked as a research and teaching assistant at Birzeit University Palestine for three years. Her research interests are in EU foreign policies, international relations, and politics in conflict areas with the focus on the occupied Palestinian territories.
Zeina Alazzeh
Today, Zeina works as a Research and Policy Officer at the Embassy Of The State of Palestine in Dublin and attends this meeting at the request of Ambassador Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid.. .
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Luke Dineen is unable to attend the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2024. Historian Gerard O’Rourke, will instead give a talk on his recent book, “Land War to Civil War 1900-1924 Donoughmore to Cork and Beyond” at 4:30 pm on Saturday 27th July 2024 at the Shandon Maldron Hotel. All are welcome.
See further details on the site.
Maldron Hotel Shandon.
Speaker: Luke Dineen.
2024 is the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Jim Larkin, who was born on January 28th 1874 in Liverpool.
Iconic photo of Jim Larkin, in O’Connell, 1913.
Jim Larkin founded the Irish Transport and General Workers Union in December 1908.
He was among the founders of the Irish Labour Party in 1912 and led the workers in the Dublin Lockout in 1913/14. He also helped to establish the Irish Citizen Army which played a prominent role under James Connolly in the 1916 Rising, Larkin spent from 1914 to 1923 in America. . On his return from America he was involved in a split from the ITGWU and the Workers Union of Ireland was formed. Jim Larkin was elected to Dáil Eiréann on three occasions. He died on 30th January 1947.
Luke Dineen, a regular speaker at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival intends to “put a particular focus on what underpinned Larkin’s ideology – Larkinism as it was called at the time – and how significant this was for events in Cork (1909 lock out) and across the country”.
Luke Dineen speaking at the 2022 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
Irish Premiere: Dance Cork Firkin Crane, Thursday 25th July at 4pm.
Kaiulani Lee as Mother Jones.
“We were never supposed to know her name. She was a poor Irish immigrant who survived famine and war, fire and plague. Unable to save her husband and four very young children, she dedicated her life to saving working families everywhere. The “robber barons” called her “the most dangerous woman in America” but the workers called her Mother Jones.”
And she asked the workers to pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living. This documentary has been adapted from Obie Award-winning actress Kaiulani Lee’s one-woman play “Can’t Scare Me” Kaiulani performed at the Firkin Crane Theatre back in July 2015 and visited Cork city for the inaugural festival in August 2012. Kaiulani lives Mother Jones.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Buttimer meeting with Kaiulani Lee at the Lord Mayor’s Office in 2012.
Length: 55 minutes.
The performance is drawn from the 1925 autobiography of Mother Jones as well as her letters, speeches and interviews.
Kaiulani visiting Abbeystrewry Famine Graveyard in 2015.
