Cllr. Dan Boyle | The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival

On November 16th 2024, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle visited the future site for the erection of the sculpture of Mother Jones in Chicago.

Above: Margaret Fulkerson, Brigid Duffy (members of the Chicago Mother Jones Statue Committee), Kathleen Farrell, (one of the lead sculptors along with Kathleen Scarboro), Cork Lord Mayor Dan Boyle, Rosemary Feurer, (project director) Ireland’s Consul General for Chicago and the Midwest Brian Cahalane, and Nathan Mason, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events representative. The group is standing in front of the Water Tower and near the site of the future sculpture.
Photo courtesy of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee.

The Lord Mayor had returned to the city where he was born and he was welcomed by members of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee along with one of the sculptors, Kathleen Farrell who are in the final planning stage of erecting this landmark sculpture near the famous Chicago Water Tower.

Rosemary Feurer, project director who attended the first festival in Cork in 2012, in welcoming the Lord Mayor pointed out that the sculpture of Mother Jones project was initiated following her visit to this festival in Shandon, close to the birthplace and baptism of Mary Harris in Cork. The strong connections between the Mother Jones committees in Chicago and Cork have been strengthened over the past decade and both groups have worked to promote the story and the spirit of the inspirational Mother Jones, whose heritage we share.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle with Brigit Duffy and Ireland’s Consulate General, Brian Cahalane. Photo courtesy of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee.

The Lord Mayor expressed the view that the efforts of the Chicago Committee will also be an inspiration to the Cork City Council in relation to celebrating the spirit of Mother Jones in Cork itself. He stated that he has a portrait of Mother Jones in his office, this portrait also hangs in the Irish Consulate General’s office in Chicago which commissioned the painting from artist Lindsay Hand.

The Mother Jones Heritage Committee, through effort and commitment, is having a statue of Mother Jones erected at a key city centre location in Chicago. I was delighted to hear of the support of Chicago City Council for this project and the inspiration given to the Chicago group by the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival in Cork. Cork should be similarly inspired to further acknowledge Mary Harris/Mother Harris in her native city.

Sculptor Kathleen Farrell with the Cork City Librarian, Patricia Looney. Photo courtesy of the Mother Jones Heritage Committee.

The sculpture is expected to be erected in Chicago during 2025 and should be a fitting monument to the Cork woman who as an emigrant during the Great Hunger went on to become “the most dangerous woman in America”.

Project Director: Rosemary Feurer, on the Bells of Shandon during the inaugural Mother Jones Festival 2012. Photo courtesy of the Cork Mother Jones Archive.

Cllr Dan Boyle, Lord Mayor of Cork launched the 13th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival recently at the Maldron Hotel Shandon. The Lord Mayor recalled that while Mary Harris (Mother Jones) was born in Cork, but left to go to Chicago, he was born in Chicago and departed to come to live in Cork. Cllr. Boyle drew attention to the huge esteem in which Mother Jones is now held in Cork and commented about the forthcoming 100th anniversary of her death in 1930 and the 200th anniversary of her birth in 1837 and the possibility of Cork City commemorating these events.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle receives a portrait of Mother Jones from Ann Piggott on behalf of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.

This has been echoed by the recent calls from the Cork Mother Jones Committee for the Rebel City of her birth to recognise this inspirational woman by the construction of a significant statue in her honour and the naming of an appropriate place name in her memory.

After the formal Launch of the 2024 Festival the magnificent Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir opened their performance with a beautiful version of “You Raised Me Up” and concluded with a stirring Amhrán Na bhFiann (Irish National Anthem).

Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir singing Amhrán Na bhFiann

Svitlava Deikun & Victoria Tymoshehuk with Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle

It was a memorable occasion. Cork’s own Mother Jones, Joan Goggin welcomed the Lord Mayor with a song, which was followed by local singer, Dave McGrath. Well known musician and signer, John Nyhan gave an emotional tribute to his friend and mentor Mick Treacy who often sang with him at the Festival, but has passed away recently.

The glamour of the Cobh Animation Group further enhanced the occasion by their presence.

Master of Ceremonies, Richard T. Cooke with Cork Mother Jones, Joan Goggin.

Members of the Cobh Animation Group with the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle.

John Nyhan paying a tribute to his friend, the late Mick Treacy watched by the Lord Mayor of Cork and piper, Norman O’Rourke..

Everyone is now looking forward to the three day festival and summer school which commences on Thursday 25th July next at 10.30 am. The full programme is available here to download on the site. Hard copies of the festival programme are available at the Cork City and County public libraries, some post office and credit unions as well as in many shops around Cork City. We hope that the Festival has something of interest for many people as it has become one of the great Cork community Meitheal gatherings to celebrate the life of local girl, Mary Harris.