The festival will be held in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter from Thursday, July 25th, until Saturday, July 27th, 2024, inclusive. It 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.

You can download the festival programme here:

The festival and summer school will consist of talks, discussions, songs, music, films and documentaries. We hope to make them interesting, challenging and relevant.

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, and 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. The events are informal and free, thanks to the support of some Irish trade unions, the Cork City Council, Cathedral Credit Union and local businesses. Attendance at each event is on a first-come, first-seated basis, so booking is unnecessary.

We look forward to seeing you.

Here are some of the Festival Posters from the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival from 2012-2023: