As Mairead O’Hara and Joan Goggin performed their songs at the plaque on Saturday evening, the Irish whiskey toasts were being organised and with one further and final toast to the Slainte and Solidarity of Mother Jones, the 14th annual Spirit of Mother Jones drew to a close after three full days and nights. 

After 33 hours of diverse events, involving over 100 participants from several nationalities and hundreds of people each day in attendance, the festival volunteers who organised and the participants who made it work looked tired and content. Another successful festival and summer school completed in Shandon with many highlights, some memorable, some difficult and some unforgettable. 

An international meitheal of people working together as a festival community in support of social justice, human rights, labour and union solidarity certainly can celebrate the legacy of the full and eventful life of local girl Mary Harris, 175 years after she left these very streets for the final time. Although she died 95 years ago she lives on wherever people struggle for justice. Her slogan “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living” is still heard from the Halls of the US Congress to Ukraine and from the President of Ireland to the streets of Cork to the Palestinian solidarity demonstrations across the world.  

It all began early on Thursday morning with a showing of the Frameworks Films produced Mother Jones and Her Children. This documentary filmed in both Cork and the USA and produced in 2014 remains one of the few visual accounts of the extraordinary life and achievements of Mary Harris/Mother Jones and contains the only existing interview with Mother Jones herself and film of the unveiling of the Cork Mother Jones plaque in 2012.. 

David Carroll from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions then spoke of the timely ICTU efforts to combat racism in workplaces and in society in general, his eye-opening factual presentation of the real facts about the contribution immigrants to Ireland are making to Irish society should be shown in every workplace, school and community centre in Ireland!

Raghad Abu-Shamala in the course of an emotional talk spoke of the morale boost which the Irish efforts to support Palestine bring to the people of Gaza. Raghad explained how as a colonised people their dream of freedom is influenced by the example of Ireland throwing off our occupation by colonists and proceeding to the creation of a democratic republic which stands up for human rights. Raghad expressed the hope that one day the Palestinian people will turn this dream into reality also and that the Irish people will continue to assist them to attain this dream.. We must hope too that Raghad can return and construct that dream of a free Palestine.  

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy accompanied by Lady Mayoress Karen Brennan performed the official opening of the fourteenth festival, praised the work of Mother Jones and even gave us a song or two. The President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions, Anne Taylor gave a welcome address. This was followed by the presentation of the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Award to Arthur Leahy. The venue was packed to capacity  for the reading of the Citation and it was very evident that Arthur was a very popular, inspired and worthy choice to receive the award in 2025.. Did we notice a tear or two as Arthur quietly accepted the award? His accomplishments in Cork over the past half century, usually achieved out of the limelight and in an unassuming manner, were worthy of many awards. He joins a worthy role of honour of activists who have received this annual award from the people of Cork such as Loiuse O’Keeffe, Antoinette Keegan, Gareth Peirce, Mick Lynch, Don O’Leary and the people of Palestine.

The colourful and dignified Kalyna Choir then celebrated the resilience of their war torn homeland under attack from Russia on a daily basis and brought home to the attendance their efforts to defend the freedom of their country. It has to be difficult emotionally when one’s families and friends are facing constant attack in their own communities which they had to leave after the invasion in 2022.. 

Blanca Rice told the inspiring story of Pat Rice of Fermoy and explained how her father had survived incarceration and torture in an Argentinian prison in 1976 as a result of his defiant defence of human rights in the country after the coup by the military junta. He was released as a result of efforts by his family and friends in Fermoy and the Irish consulate to highlight his plight.  After leaving the priesthood, Pat subsequently married a fellow detainee Fatima Cabrera, and went on to raise a family of three children. He continued to fight for human rights across the world until he died on July 8th 2010 and today represents an inspiration for the human spirit in the face of adversity. Perhaps one day Fermoy will create a permanent memorial to honour Pat Rice.

Almost 50 years afterwards, one is left to wonder if human civilization has advanced at all when listening to the description  of the ongoing depraved horrors taking place in Gaza, from Jilan Wahba Abdalmajiid, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland. 

The “Gaza Monologues’ an Asktar Theatre Production, presented by West Cork for Palestine with its horrific daily descriptions by eye witnesses of life and death in that land confirmed the bleak genocide taking place. All the while a further generation of politicians across Europe of all places close their eyes to the ongoing destruction by Israel, the eviction of a people from their land and the growing ‘Trump Famine’, which sears the souls of Irish people in whom the Irish Famine is in the DNA. Mary Harris lives through the horrors of the ‘Great Hunger” on the very streets of Cork outside the doors of the Firkin Theatre where this was performed.  

The sad story of environmentalist Petra Kelly left one also to wonder if there’s any hope for the entire Earth anyway as climate change seems to be impacting more and more. One had high hopes of the young people and school children taking up the challenge to bring about real environmental change yet the virtual disappearance of the thousands of young activists of the Fridays for Future gatherings appears to suggest otherwise.  

Still the songs of hope and union solidarity and battles won and battles lost by the singers of the legendary Cork Singers Club renewed the spirits as the sunny July evening turned into darkness. David Curtin from Midleton sang his new Mother Jones song too to general acclaim!  

A very late night of songs and stories and not a musical instrument to be heard. Thank you Willie Hammond for organising this unique event.

Friday morning began with Nick MacWilliam, who told of the murders of teachers, trader unionists and human rights activists in Colombia, in a largely hidden campaign to prevent the establishment of democracy.

Then came a festival highlight as Daniel Draper’s new documentary Iron Ladies captivated the audience. In the very first public showing of this classic documentary about the women of the Miners Strike of 1984/5, the straight talking, earthy humour and revelations of the actions by these fearless women (no men in this documentary!), in the engine room of the miners’ strike came as an eye-opener to many. It was uplifting to learn of their respect for Mother Jones and what this Cork born woman meant to them. Yet the visits to this festival over the years by Betty Cook, Anne Scargill, Davy Hopper and many other activists of the Miners Strike had made it clear to many how much the women really contributed during this strike and how their activism has continued over the past four decades since.

 “When you’re fighting for survival you’ve got nothing left to lose”. Mal Finch’s Women of the Working Class about the women who fought alongside the miners resonate through history and you can see them in ‘Iron Ladies’. They are indeed the proud daughters of Mother Jones!. This documentary was directed by Daniel Draper of Shut out the Light Films (www.shutoutthelight.co.uk)   

The songs, stories and poetry of Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford again provided a tapestry of working people’s lives, travels and tall tales to an appreciative audience. Jimmy has managed to keep alive the ballads of ordinary people throughout Cork and beyond.

Mick Lynch, now retired from his union, discussed the role of the Labour movement in society and appealed for unity among democratic and progressive activists to defend the freedoms won. In the course of a challenging talk, he praised the efforts to stop the division between migrants and working class communities generated by the far right, so that they can move forward in a spirit of working class solidarity. He asked for the construction of social houses to be retained under the democratic control of the people where the rents paid would be used to construct more affordable homes. Mr Lynch encouraged people to stay active and involved in the Labour movement and not resign or depart to pursue worthy causes which could be more successfully pursued by the movement as a powerful united entity.  As an orator, a thoughtful and challenging thinker of the Labour movement, Mick has few equals today!

Another union orator and leader of labour joined us on Zoom afterwards as President Cecil E Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America told us the history of this historically important union, the union of Mother Jones. She was employed as a union organiser by the UMWA, one of the first women to take on this dangerous task. President Roberts has a personal connection also in that his  great grandmother was known as Ma Blizzard, who was a trusted friend of Mother Jones in the union battles on Cabin Creek and Paint Creek in West Virginia during what became known as the “Mine Wars”. We acknowledge the assistance of James Goltz of Mt Olive in organising this historic interview during the festival. We wish President Roberts a long and happy retirement and a welcome always in Cork..

Shandon Plaza was then the location for a thrilling dance by the Mexican Community Dancers celebrating Madre Juanita for her support for the Mexican revolutionaries. Let’s hope none of the startled motorists and passerbys thought another revolution was taking place in front of the Butter Market!

We only Want the Earth: The Life and Ideas James Connolly isa documentary written and directed by Alan Gilsenan of Yellow Asylum Films and with Des Geraghty as the driving force and executive producer. This thoughtful documentary tells the story of James Connolly, who led the Citizen Army in the 1916 Rising and who was executed soon afterwards. But We only Want the Earth concentrates on Connolly’s working life and union ideas and places his socialist labour views and his social vision for the construction of the structures required for a new society, into the modern Irish context. In this way Connolly’s vision lives on and his analysis remains relevant today. This documentary succeeds and makes one wonder what Connolly would think of Ireland today ……..do go see it!. 

A panel discussion led by SIPTU Assistant General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, with Mick Lynch, Karan Casey and Des Geraghty followed. 

John Nyhan and George Mann, himself a former union organiser from New York then sang labour and union songs to complete a most remarkable day devoted to the common thread of labour heritage and history from the USA, the UK and Ireland.

Saturday began very early with local historian Peter Foynes strolling through the Shandon Historic District and offering his comments and unique insights into this district with its treasure trove of the history of this city. One can really appreciate why the community of Shandon on the hill is the beating and vibrant heart of Cork City. St’ Finbarr is credited with founding Cork but one suspects that the people living on this hill were there well before him.

Joe Noonan questioned whether environmental law and justice are allies or enemies. A capacity and attentive audience listened to this experienced lawyer with his rare legal skills and firsthand knowledge of the many community campaigns to which he has contributed. During his presentation he offered a blueprint for creating a successful community campaign to enforce environmental laws which should protect and enhance rather than undermine communities.

Mike Allen discussed the homeless statistics which form the basis for the ongoing crisis of the lack of affordable accommodation in Ireland and which is leading to the external flight of young people and growing inequality internally in Ireland.

The festival concluded with historians Jack Lane looking at the lives of Roger Casement, Anne Twomey speaking of women who had made their mark in Cork such as Anna Haslam, Suzanne Rouviere Day, Jennie Dowdall and Eileen Desmond. Luke Dineen examined the life, times and  ideology of James Larkin. These speakers all offered insights into people who have made their mark in Ireland, some are well known and many mostly women who have made an often invisible contribution should be known. Anne Twomey and the Shandon Area History group have attempted to rectify this anomaly of history.  . . 

The gathering at the plaque followed and a list of friends and festival attendees no longer with us was read to the large attendance. May all rest in peace.  

Martin Leahy and Dee Power along with George Mann, Rory McCarthy, Joan Goggin, William Hammond and Mairead O Hara performed in what became a fantastic impromptu session of music and songs by the side of the street. James Nolan finally called for the annual toast to Mother Jones and it was duly performed in the warm glow of the low evening sunshine appearing from the west which breaks from behind the old Butter Market building at the top of the street. Slainte do Mother Jones!

It had been a fitting celebration of the Spirit of Mother Jones, on the streets where Mary Harris walked, a spirit which lives on wherever people gather to organise against injustice. In a prescient observation, United States Senator Bernie Sanders remarked at the plaque a few weeks ago, “the world needs Mother Jones more than ever”. As we fast approach the centenary of her death, she is being recognised more and more as representing the true rebel spirit of Cork to the wider world..