After the presentation of The Spirit of Mother Jones award to Ken Fleming. In photo: Gerard O Mahony (Cork Mother Jones Committee), Ken Fleming and Joe O’Flynn (General Secretary of SIPTU). 
Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald with Jim Goltz 
Rory McCarthy sings The Internationale opposite No.37 Pope’s Quay as Manus O’Riordan listens 
Jimmy Crowley in full song at the Maldron 
Rosemary Feurer (third from left) at the grave of Mother Jones 
Ken Fleming being presented with The Spirit of Mother Jones Award in 2017 by Jim Nolan (Cork Mother Jones Committee) 
William Hammond CMJC presenting award to Ger McCloskey at the showing of the Limerick Brigadistas documentary at the Firkin 2017 
2017 Rory McCarthy singing the Battle of Jarama in front of Mick Riordans House with Breda and Manus listening.-1 
John Nyhan and Mick Treacy in full song at the Maldron 
Oriana O’Connor with speaker Warren Davies 2017 
Karen Underwood who appeared at the 2017 festival
The 2017 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and summer school in the Shandon Historic Quarter ended on Saturday night 5th August when the Sweet Olive String Band played it out.
After completing some 30 separate events over 5 days, an exhausted committee and participants somehow managed to raise a glass or two of Mother Jones favourite tipple in a final toast or two as we surrounded her plaque on John Redmond Street. Endless verses of “She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes” rang out. Amazingly, a blinding evening sun finally burst through the clouds above the old Cork Butter Market and blanketed the street and plaque in a glowing orange sunlight as Helen sang “Black Flowers” by Lynn Miles.
Throughout the previous five days we had met visitors from the USA, UK, Chile, South Africa, France, Germany and Holland as well as from all over Cork and Ireland. Songs from Jimmy Crowley such “Mick Barry – the Pride of Waterfall” …..to Susana and Jimmy’s tribute to Victor Jara of Chile….. to Jarama Valley and the evocative songs and stories of the Cork Singers Club were sung.
We listened in an overflowing room to the story of Micheal O’Riordan, who as a young 21 year old left his home in nearby 37 Popes Quay in 1938 and went to fight fascism in Spain as he was remembered by his son Manus and daughter Brenda. And we later celebrated his life in an impromptu tribute by Rory McCarthy on Popes Quay opposite his house!
We heard historian Harry Owens describe the horrors of the Spanish Civil War and Anne Twomey talked about the passion of La Pasionaria, while John Nyhan and the legendary Mick Treacy sang the songs of the lost war in English, Spanish and German. The six Limerick men who fought were brought back to life in the new documentary by Frameworks Films and the LIBMT. Earlier, Luke Dineen had vividly described the impact of the Bolshevik revolution on Cork.
We had watched A Plastic Ocean with growing unease and the final silent stunned response of the large audience signalled a world in deep trouble. Later listening to environmentalist Fr. Sean McDonagh, we quietly wondered if the revolutionary environmental change in Catholic Church teaching as represented by Laudato Si-On Care of Our Common Home from Pope Francis may even already be too late for our planet.
Marcia D’Alton explained in a revealing presentation the perplexing planning in Cork Harbour…… as we await the latest incinerator decision, while Sean O’Muiri of Save Our City described the future Cork City river planning on the banks of our River Lee.
A relative of Feargus O’Connor was present to hear Warren Davies tell us of the West Corkman who brought the revolution of democracy to Britain. The mighty river of Chartism had indeed flowed from West Cork to Britain!
Anne Twomey packed the room to tell of the brave local women who fought for Irish freedom on the northside of Cork City. Some of their proud relatives were in the audience too. Later investigative journalist, Frank Connolly told of Tom Gilmartin and the story of recent corruption Irish style in our Republic……… a Republic born of these very womens’ heroic efforts.
The Cork Mother Jones Committee at the Plaque 2017 
SMJ Award 2017 to Ken Fleming with Joe O’Flynn and the Cork Mother Jones Committee. 
Geraldine McCarthy CMJC with Sharon Goltz 2017 
Speakers Sean O’Muiri, Cllr. Marcia D’Alton with Gerard O’Mahony CMJC 2017 
Joan Goggin with Helen O’Donovan 2017 
L to R Richard T Cooke, Lord mayor Fitzgerald, James Goltz and Anne Piggott. 2017 
Fr Sean McDonagh with CMJC Gerard O’Mahony 2017 
James Goltz with Anne Piggott 2017 at the plaque.
Richard T Cooke and his singers sang local songs, the Mother Jones Ceili band raised the roof, while soul singer Karen Underwood originally from Chicago and taking inspiration from the personal tragedies experienced and overcome by Mother Jones gave an unforgettable performance for the ages. During Saturday morning Karan Casey sang her wonderful new tribute to Mother Jones based on “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living”.
On Tuesday, Irish trade union leaders had discussed tactics, victories and defeats and then we had witnessed the impact of Mother Jones in the USA, the role of the Greek community and the present day mining manifestation in West Virginia where Donald Trump secured many of their votes in the remarkable Blood on the Mountain.
Sacred proclamations from the AFL-CIO and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) were presented to the committee representing the acknowledgement by those unions of the immense role of local girl Mary Harris in union activism. Julianna described Mary’s contemporary Florence Kelley.
The earth carried from the grave of Mother Jones in Illinois by James Goltz and representing her symbolic essence was presented to the Lord Mayor of Cork. It is safe in Cork now!
Ken Fleming, the inspiring trade union organiser, in an emotional response to being presented with the 2017 Spirit of Mother Jones Award described what it meant to him and explain why it would enable him and his comrades in the International Transport Workers Federation to drive on to eliminate slavery on our seas.
Mother Jones had indeed chosen an outstanding recipient for this our highest accolade and we are reassured that she remains at work today.
The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017: Lectures and Speakers
- 2017 Cork Spirit of Mother Jones Award
- Political and Corporate Corruption: Tom Gilmartin Story by Frank Connolly
- Remembering Michael O’Riordan – A Neighbour’s Child – Speech by his son Manus O’Riordan
- The Revolutionary Women of Cork’s Northside 1916-1923 by Anne Twomey of the Shandon Area History Group
- Feargus O’Connor – The Lion of Freedom – with Cllr Warren Davies
- The Environmental Battle in Cork Harbour – with Councillor Marcia Dalton
- Slums, Factories and Child Labour – Florence Kelley 1859-1932 – with Julianna Minihan
- La Pasionaria – the story of Dolores Ibárruri – with local historian Anne Twomey
- “The Bolshevik Revolution – its Impact on Cork and the Irish Labour Movement”. – Luke Dineen
- The 2017 Cork Mother Jones Lectures. – with Ethel Buckley, Ed Byrne and James Goltz
- Origins and Lessons of the Spanish Civil War with Historian and author Harry Owens
- “Climate Change – Our Response!” – with Fr. Seán McDonagh
- Spirit of Mother Jones Festival & Summer School has started
- Spirit of Mother Jones Festival – Day Three
- Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017 – Day 4
- Photos from opening day of the 6th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival & Summer School
Films and Music at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017
- The new film “Blood on the Mountain” will feature at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017
- “A Plastic Ocean” at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School 2017.
- Music at the Maldron 2017 – The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017
- Karen Underwood sings the Blues in Cork
- Frank Ryan and the Limerick Brigadistas
- Sweet Olive String Band makes sweet music at the Maldron
- Films at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017
- Songs of the Spanish Civil War – Music from John Nyhan, Mick Treacy and Friends
- Karen Underwood Sings the Blues – concert at the Maldron Hotel
- Karan Casey sings her new song “Mother Jones” at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2017.
- Rory McCarthy sings “Valley of Jarama” at ceremony to mark centenary of Michael O’Riordan
- Helen O’Donovan sings at Mother Jones plaque, Cork
The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 