The former President of the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), Des Geraghty will speak at the forthcoming Spirit of Mother Jones festival on Thursday 23rd July 2026.
Des Geraghty.
The title of the talk is “An Injury to One is the Concern of All”.
The title is a slogan of the US Knights of Labor, coined by Uriah S Stephens in 1869 and popularised by Irish trade union leader, Jim Larkin forms the basis for a talk by Des Geraghty at this year’s festival. The Knights, forerunners of the American trade union movement did not admit women until the 1880s when Mary Harris joined and where she formed a strong friendship with Terence Powderly, whose people were from Co Meath.
Terence Powerdly, leader of the Knights of Labor with his friend, Mother Jones.
Des Geraghty has spent a long and varied career immersed in the SIPTU Trade Union and in Left wing party politics in Ireland, yet he has also found time to be a writer, a singer and a musician. In 1984 he stood unsuccessfully for the Workers’ Party in the European elections, but became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) in 1992 when he replaced Proinsias De Rossa who had became leader of the Democratic Left.
Des served as Vice-President of SIPTU 1997-1999, and then as President from 1999 to 2003.
Although very active in union politics, social partnership and labour disputes over many decades, Dublin born Liberties man, Des was active on many social justice issues, sang songs, played the flute and wrote a book about his friend Luke Kelly.
He is chairman of the Clé Club, a traditional music and song club at Liberty Hall.
Des Geraghty with Meath man,Jim O’Brien.at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2025.
Des Geraghty singing at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2025.
Des produced a documentary film about his hero James Connolly, “We Only Want the Earth” which was shown at the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival to a large audience. The documentary was written and directed by acclaimed film-maker Alan Gilsenan.
“We Only Want the Earth” challenged the viewers to look in a wider perspective at the icon that is James Connolly. It portrayed the ordinary human Connolly, which lies behind the martyr of 1916. All the while tracing the real spirit of the man and of the legacy and vision he left behind after his execution in 1916 in the form of present day activists campaigning for social and labour justice.
Des was quoted as saying at the time that he was “more interested in his life than in his death” and that certainly is achieved through this powerful documentary. Mother Jones, a contemporary of Connolly in her time always referred to unions being “the family of labour”, since unions looked after communities and not just individuals. James Connolly would have endorsed this approach.
Des Geraghty will speak at 5:00 pm on Thursday 23rd July at the Maldron Hotel Shandon. All are welcome.
Left to Right: Des Geraghty, Singer Karan Casey, Mick Lynch and Ethel Buckley of SIPTU at Shandon July 2025.
Tadhg Hickey will appear at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival on Friday 24th July at 3.45 pm.
Tadhg Hickey. Photo courtesy of Tadhg Hickey.
He will discuss his experiences on the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza last year
Born in Cork, Tadhg Hickey is a comedian, filmmaker, writer and political activist. He has had a long standing interest and commitment to the Palestinian people and during the coronavirus period in 2021 he created a fundraiser for the Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp which raised over 32 thousand euro.
In 2025, Tadhg participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla which attempted to reach Gaza then as now blockaded by Israel. He was arrested and detained by the Israeli authorities when their boat was boarded.
He continues to challenge the hypocrisy of the West towards the Middle East through his comedy performances and in the release of short videos which forces one to question the accepted Western perspectives of the struggles of people who are not white.
His biting political satire has amassed 100 million views and a global social media following. He wrote ‘The School’ for RTE and has toured extensively throughout Britain and Ireland. Currently his searing satire show NOOW written and performed with Nicole Jones is now out.
Tadhg will speak at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival on Friday 24th July 2026 at 3.45 pm.
Anne Twomey of the Shandon Area History Group will speak at the 2026 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival about the Cummins Sisters, a remarkable and fascinating Cork family.
The presentation will take place on Thursday 23rd July at 7.30 pm at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
Historian, Anne Twomey.
In particular. Anne will examine the lives of the five Cummins sisters who were daughters of William Edward Ashley Cummins (1858-1923) and Jane Constable Hall (1864-1944) who lived on Patrick’s Hill in Cork.
William Cummins was Professor of Medicine at University College Cork and a surgeon at Victoria Hospital.
It was a large Anglican family of five daughters, Geraldine, Mary, Iris, Jane and Phyllis and six sons Arthur, William, Robert, Harry, Nicholas and Fenton.
Left to Right: Dr. Mary Hearn, Dr. Jane Mullin, Geraldine Cummins, Phyllis Hayes, and Iris Cummins.
An unusual element is that in an era which is not noted for the involvement of women in 3rd level education and having independent careers, the five sisters achieved academic excellence through the encouragement especially of their father and the influence of their governess Winifred Holloway.
Their active participation in the sport of hockey at an international level, four out of the five gained international caps for Ireland, more than matched the achievement of their brothers on the rugby fields and was also unusual at the time. Their individual achievements in their private and professional lives in medicine, engineering, arts, as scientists and army officers in Cork and elsewhere are worthy of examination.
Iris Cummins holding the Munster Cup. Photo: UCC.
Anne Twomey will concentrate on the life stories and achievement of the five unique sisters and portray the wider picture of this unusual Cork family in the early years of the 20th century in Cork as they made their journey in a male dominated society through the turmoil and tragedy of World War 1.
Their story, their achievements and accomplishments which contributed to society in general and to an Ireland itself in a revolutionary era as it emerged from being a British colony on its troubled pathway towards creating a free and Independent state is worth telling.
How the women of this wealthy establishment Cork family which through education broke many glass ceilings and sought to actively transition into the new social and political fabric of society in many diverse ways remains largely untold.
A basic outline of the interests and lives five sisters follows:
Geraldine Dorothy Cummins (1890-1969) writer, suffragist, psychic and spiritualist. Geraldine co-founded the Munster Women’s Franchise League with Susanne Bouvier Day. Along with Susanne, she wrote and published plays, short stories and several religious books.
Geraldine Cummins.
She recalled being physically stoned by a hostile group of women in her native city in 1914 while campaigning for ‘Votes For Women’. Geraldine was briefly married to poet Austin Clarke. An Irish hockey international, she settled in London during World War Two and made occasional visits to Cork.
Mary Cummins Hearn, (1891-1969)
Mary, then a medical student, married Robert Hearn (1875-1952) in 1911. They had two children. Later he was appointed Bishop of Cork Cloyne and Ross (1938-1952). Mary returned to UCC to her medical studies, after which she was appointed an anesthetist in the Victoria hospital.
Dr.Mary Hearn, courtesy of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
Later as a gynecologist, Mary was renowned throughout Cork city as a family doctor for treating and curing all classes regardless of ability to pay. “Dr. Mary’s” astute medical knowledge of women and her kindness to patients became legendary. In 1924 she became the first female fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland and continued to practice medicine in the city for almost 40 years. .
Also an Irish hockey international. The old graveyard surrounding the Bells of Shandon is named the Dr. Mary Hearn Park.
Iris Ashley Cummins (1894-1968)
Iris was the first female graduate in Engineering at University College Cork in 1915. After using her engineering skills in the British navy in World War 1 she returned to Ireland and established her own private business as a land surveyor. Later on in 1927 she joined the Irish Land Commission where she was appointed as the first female land surveyor. She lectured and wrote articles in engineering papers and always encouraged girls to enter the profession.
Iris Cummins at University College Cork.
Iris was an Irish hockey international from around 1914 to 1939 and was active in the administration of the game, including taking part in a trip to the United States where she met President Calvin Coolidge.in 1928. (Mother Jones also met President Coolidge earlier in 1924). On the 22nd February 2022, the Civil Engineering Building in UCC was named the Iris Ashley Cummins Building in her honour.
Aras Iris Ashley Cummins Building in University College Cork. Photo: J. Barimo.
Jane Grace Cummins (1899-1982)
Jane also studied at UCC and graduated with degrees in Medicine, Obstetrics and Surgery and joined the British Colonial Medical Service in Ghana, where she spent most of her life. Married in 1934 to David Miller, they had two children. She served as a squadron officer with the RAF Medical Service during the Second World War. After the war ended, she established child care clinics for the treatment of chest and TB illnesses.
Phyllis Aylmer Cummins (1907-1960)
Phyllis Aylmer Cummins graduated from UCC in 1929 with a Bachelor of Science and a Higher Diploma in Education. Later in 1931, she earned a Master of Science. She worked with the Metallurgy Atomic Research Station at Harwell in the UK.
Phyllis married Horace Shiel Hayes, son of Nathaniel Hayes in 1932.
There were also six sons in the family.
The Cork Mother Jones Committee acknowledges the research of Anne Twomey of the Shandon Area History Group.
Anne Twomey and Maeve Higgins of the Shandon Area History Group. Photo: Donoughmore Facebook.
The story of the Remarkable Cummins Sisters from Cork will be told in far more detail by Anne Twomey at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane on Thursday evening 23rd July at 7.30pm.
There is no charge, booking is not required but people are advised to come early as it is first come, first seated.
The Red Flag Festival takes place in County Meath from Friday 30th May to Sunday 1st June 2025. The Festival celebrates the life of Jim Connell, known as the man who wrote The Red Flag.
Jim was born in Kilskyre, County Meath in 1852. He worked as a casual docker in Dublin, however he was blacklisted due to his efforts to unionise the workers in Dublin’s docklands. Connell emigrated to London in 1875, and became a staff journalist on Keir Hardie’s newspaper, “The Labour Leader”.
Inspired by the London Dock Strike, Jim wrote the Red Flag in 1889. It quickly became an anthem of the International Labour Movement and is sung each year at the British and Irish Labour Party’s annual conferences. His life and work for trade unions and the promotion of social justice is celebrated in his home place at this festival. He is honoured at Crossakiel, Co Meath by a magnificent monument.
Jim Connell died in 1929, and he is buried in London.
A very interesting 2025 Festival programme of events takes place over the weekend and full details can be obtained at info@redflagfestival.com. All are welcome.
Mother Jones is remembered for many things, for her bravery, her resilience, her support for the unionisation of all workers especially women, her leadership of the March of the Mill Children and so much more.
March of the Mill Children. Shandon 2019. Photo: Claire Stack.
And yet her enduring spirit remains relevant and very much alive across the world mainly as a result of a simple sentence addressed to poor miners standing in a dark field in West Virginia, over 120 years ago… According to her autobiography, Mother Jones went to speak one night to a mining town in the Fairmont district in West Virginia.
Daughters of Mother Jones at the Durham Gala.Photo: Courtesy of Mother Jones Heritage Project, Chicago.
She discovered that the meeting was to be held in a church. On entering she discovered that the priest was collecting money from the union miners presumably for the rent of the church in which the meeting was taking place.
‘I reached over and took the money from the priest. Then I turned to the miners. “Boys , this is a praying institution. You should not commercialize it”
She led the union miners out to a nearby field, in front of a school and held the meeting. Pointing to the school, she advised them to hold their meetings at the school declaring
” Your organisation is not a praying institution. It’s a fighting institution. It’s an educational institution along industrial lines.
Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!”
Source: The Autobiography of Mother Jones, Chapter V1 War in West Virginia. Charles H Kerr Publishing Company. Page 41.
Those profound words of Mother Jones at a little town in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1902 remain so powerful that over 120 years later they continue to echo through history wherever union members and people gather to fight for justice and human rights.
It’s been uttered by presidents, on banners in the US Congress, printed on posters, written on plaques and walls in union halls, quoted by trade unions across the world and by social justice and human rights organisations in countless articles….it has become a rallying call for many especially during Covid, and recently at Palestinian support demonstrations, imprinted on awards, painted on union banners at strike picket lines.
Demonstration by Jewish union members against the genocide in Gaza.
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins in paying tribute to the front line workers quoted it to praise and generate public support for their brave efforts to combat Covid-19 in April 2020.
Source: US Department of Labor.
Organisations from Oxfam to Greenpeace, many peace and justice organisations and the Justice for the Stardust 48 Campaign have repeated this battle-cry. Its global reach stretches from the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) to SIPTU (formerly the Irish Transport and General Workers Union of Connolly and Larkin) in Ireland and to the Washington State Nurses Union.
The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union on International Workers Memorial Day.Washington State Nurses Association.
The front page of the New York Times (23rd April 1972) contained the quote. when reporter George Vecsey described the pop art wall posters with a picture of Mother Jones when he visited Appalachia. A few days later a “Mother Jones Day” organised by Miners for Democracy took place in Pursglove, West Virginia. It was addressed by Kenneth “Chip” Yablonski, son of murdered union leader Jock Yablonski who urged the miners to reclaim democratic control of their union, the UMWA, in which Mother Jones was one of its first organisers under then President John Mitchell.
The New York Times 23rd April 1972.
Variations of the cry such as “mourn the dead” or “remember the dead” rather than the original “pray for the dead ” are also used. A wonderful documentary written and performed by Kaiulani Lee called Fight Like Hell: The Testimony of Mother Jones has been produced. Controversially, the growing use of the phrase “fight like hell” by the Right has increased in recent times. We must reclaim those passionate words, which reflect the communal ideas of Mother Jones, first spoken back near Fairmont all those years ago to the union miners gathered at the dead of night in that field.
Source: Library of Congress.
Historian Elliott Gorn in the introduction to his book, Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America mentioned that the words “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living” are all that most people know of Mother Jones.
As long as her words resonate as a call to action wherever in the world people struggle for social justice then Mother Jones lives on.
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.. .
Our festival will take place from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th July, in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter. The Summer School and musical events are held in the Shandon Maldron Hotel and Dance Cork Firkin Crane on John Redmond Street.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy opens the 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival pictured with some members of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
The members of the Cork Mother Jones Committee are busy planning the three day programme of events for what is our thirteenth annual community festival..
The festival and summer school will again feature a wide variety of speakers, films, walks, toasts and music associated with the trade union campaigning interests of Cork born Mother Jones.
Announcements of speakers as they confirm will appear here on a regular basis. However we can confirm that historians Liz Gillis and Anne Twomey will again feature on the opening evening. The work of both over many years has questioned the disappearance of many radical women from the official narrative of Irish history.
Historians Liz Gillis and Anne Twomey.
Many of these women had been active in the Irish War Of Independence and Irish Civil War, and some highlighted the appalling social conditions endured by many people in the new State from 1922 onwards. However the new government cancelled the women in today’s terms and through legislation marginalised them for many decades in the social, economic and political life of the State.
The festival is planning to feature the latest documentary on Mother Jones “Fight Like Hell” – The Testimony of Mother Jones which was written and performed by Kaiulani Lee.
Actress Kaiulani, who has visited the festival on several occasions, has worked for several years to create this amazing documentary and we are all eagerly looking forward to seeing it for the first time in Mother Jones’ home place.
Our strong interest in the international trade union movement will see a range of Irish trade union speakers discuss the future of trade unions while we will feature a number of documentaries on the 40th anniversary of the UK Miners Strike and the actions of Scottish workers who refused to work on General Pinochet’s Air Force planes.
Trade Union leader, Mick Lynch in pensive mood at the Butter Market in Shandon.
Environmental issues and climate change will also feature and will include a showing of a documentary on local biodiversity as well as a round table discussion involving young environmental activists.
The Cork Ukrainian Choir and the Cobh Animation Group at the 2023 Festival Launch.
A highlight of the opening night will see the return of the unique and legendary Cork Singers’ Club, who have performed to packed attendances at all the festivals since 2012. Cork’s John Nyhan will arrange the musical events on Friday night and has planned a huge surprise, while singer Martin Leahy returns to sing at the traditional whiskey toast of Mother Jones on Saturday evening.
Cork Piper, Norman O’Rourke plays the traditional bagpipes for the Lord Mayor’s entry to the festival.
Remember we try to ensure that events, except fundraising remain free to all. There is no pre booking required, but please attend early as its a first come, first seated policy.
As always we expect the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will be interesting, relevant and challenging to encourage discussion and debate.
The 13th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will be held in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter from Thursday 25th July until Saturday 27th July 2024 inclusive. The festival will be organised by the Cork Mother Jones Committee 2024, an independent voluntary community based committee. The festival is dedicated to the memory of Mary Harris/Mother Jones and to inspirational people everywhere who fight for social justice, workers rights and human rights.
Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT Union with members for the Cork Mother Jones Committee receives the 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones Award. Photo: Niamh O’Flynn.
The festival and summer school will consist of talks, discussions, songs, music, films and documentaries. We hope to make them interesting, challenging and relevant. If you have a relevant topic which you wish to see included, please email motherjonescork@gmail.com as early as possible but before 29th February 2024 and we will get back to you.
According to James Nolan, spokesperson,
“The 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones festival was without doubt one of the very best we’ve had. Hundreds of people from all corners of Ireland and across the world visited Shandon and many events had a capacity audience. Trade union leader Mick Lynch was an outstanding speaker, he attracted a huge attendance to the Firkin Theatre and was delighted to be back in the city of his father and the extended Lynch family. All the speakers, musicians, singers, choirs, many participating for the first time, ensured a lively three days. Even the traditional Irish whiskey toast to Mother Jones was packed. We are already looking forward to the 2024 festival.”
All are welcome to attend the 2024 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School, events are informal and free thanks to the support of the Irish trade union movement and the Cork City Council. Attendance at each event is on a first come, first seated basis, so no need to book. We look forward to seeing you.
The Cork Ukrainian Choir yesterday opened the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival with a stunning musical performance. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy accompanied them on “Danny Boy”. It was a wonderful occasion from a fantastic choir.
Historians Liz Gillis and Anne Twomey.Some of the Cork Singers Club at the Maldron Hotel.
Showing on Saturday 29th July at 11:00 am at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon.
This is a documentary about Roger Casement (1864-1916) and his work as a British Foreign office diplomat to expose human rights abuses in the rubber industry in South America. His efforts to exposed human rights injustices in the Congo and Brazil, and later when he joined the Irish fight for freedom makes him one of the most extraordinary revolutionaries of the period.
In 1910, the British Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Roger Casement, undertook an investigation into allegations of crimes against indigenous communities committed by the British-registered Peruvian Amazon Company.
Secrets from Putumayo tells of the barbaric treatment of the native peoples in Peru and Brazil which he discovered there and which he exposed to a shocked public. Basically, cruel slave labour conditions were an ongoing feature of the rubber industry in the Amazon rainforest, it was “a real green hell.” Shocked by his discoveries, and despite a heavy personal toll, Casement was determined to bring awareness to the British of their own colonial atrocities by revealing the appalling human cost of the rubber industry.
This documentary is narrated by Stephen Rea who reads disturbing excerpts from his journal, while archival images leave a lasting impression on a viewer. Listening to the stories of the native people whose ancestors suffered at the hands of these savage colonial corporations who plundered the resources on the lands of indigenous tribes makes one question how much the operations of some multinationals and governments have changed in over a hundred years.
Roger Casement (Wikipedia).
Today the exploitation continues as these modern companies exploit the rare metals, resources, environment and fish of native peoples across the world as we stand by. Roger Casement was the equivalent of the canary in the mine of human rights. His reports exposing the treatment of indigenous people deserve a wider audience. Secrets from Putamayo will go a long way to achieving this recognition for an extraordinary man.
After 1913, Casement’s efforts on behalf of the new independence movement in Ireland are reasonably well known. He abandoned the British empire after his retirement to help the Irish Revolution. However he paid the ultimate price when the British government ensured his execution for treason against the empire on the 3rd August 1916 some three months after the 1916 leaders were executed.
Roger Casement was arguably one of the world’s first global human rights activists.
Our thanks to everyone who has made the showing of this film possible at the Spirit of Mother Jones festival.
