Tag Archives: Lord Mayor of Cork

Dates for the 2026 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival Announced.

Posted on by
Reply

The Cork Mother Jones Committee announces that the 2026 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will be held in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter over three days and nights from Thursday 23rd July until Saturday 25th July.

Bernie and Jane Sanders toast Mother Jones at the plaque.

According to James Nolan, spokesperson for the festival,

“We are happy to confirm that our 15th Annual Spirit of Mother Jones Festival will once again take place in the Shandon Historic Quarter in 2026.  This inspiring festival is dedicated to trade union leader and social justice advocate Mother Jones, who was born Mary Harris in Shandon in 1837 and who has become an international symbol for human rights across the world.  

This festival celebrates her life and achievements and supports the causes she fought for as the 100th Anniversary of her death in 1930 approaches.

The 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Award was presented to Arthur Leahy. Included in the photograph is Cork’s own Mother Jones, Joan Goggin.

Organised by a voluntary committee, it remains open and free to all and attracts large numbers of visitors to our community annually.

We were overjoyed that US Senator Bernie Sanders came to Shandon in May to visit the community and walk the streets and in the footsteps of Mary Harris.

We acknowledge the practical support and encouragement of the Irish trade union movement and the assistance of the Cork City Council which enables the festival to produce a varied and challenging programme of events each year.  We will announce participants and speakers over the coming months.”

Mexican Community Dancers accompanied by trade union leader, Mick Lynch at the Dance Cork Firkin Theater during the 2025 Festival.

The Cork Mother Jones committee is again inviting people to suggest ideas for topics at next year’s festival. These should relate to labour and trade union matters, its heritage and history, social justice and human rights issues. Potential speakers might also contact the committee if they feel they would like to address a related topic at the festival and summer school itself. Material must be relevant, interesting and challenging as debate and discussion is encouraged. All suggestions are considered by the voluntary committee and the closing date is 14th February 2026. 

Please send all all ideas, suggestions, or proposals by email to motherjonescork@gmail.com .

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy with Karen Brennan, Lady Mayoress of Cork and members of the Cobh Animation Team. Photo: Claire Stack.
Kalyna Ukrainian Choir perform at the Festival.
Some of the large crowd gathering at the Maldron Hotel during the 2025 Festival.

Norman O’Rourke RIP. The Pipes are Silent!

Posted on by
Reply

Cork piper Norman O’Rourke sadly passed away on Tuesday August 26th at St Finbarr’s hospital. 

Norman O’Rourke at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.

Norman played his pipes at many events across Cork but for those of us associated with the annual Spirit of Mother Jones Festival, he will be remembered for piping in the Lord Mayor of Cork to the formal launches and official opening ceremonies of the festival.

Norman O’Rourke with the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy and Cork’s Mother Jones (Joan Goggin).

Norman learned to play the pipes in the 1950s with the Cork Volunteers’ Pipe Band which took part in commemorative parades throughout Ireland and played at all the major Gaelic Athletic Association matches during that period. To many, Norman was the face and image of Cork city and he proudly adorns a large banner on the Grand Parade having been chosen as the official piper of the Decade of Centenaries celebrations by Cork City Council, where he is viewed by the thousands coming and going in the City Centre. He used to joke how he kept an eye on all the parades and demonstrations gathered right underneath him for years.

A City Remembers. Norman looks down on the Grand Parade.

A proud follower of Cork hurlers he was so looking forward recently to the All-Ireland final this year but alas victory was not to be. He played with and  supported St Vincent’s Hurling and Football Club. However he was regularly seen leading parades of excited children to their medal presentations on pitches at GAA clubs, the sound of his pipes being a magnet for crowds to gather. A lifelong republican he played his pipes at commemorations, parades and funerals where he was a familiar figure. 

Norman O’Rourke plays at the baptism font, where Mary Harris (Mother Jones) was baptised on 1st August 1837 in the North Cathedral in Cork. His performance took place on August 1st 2012 at the inaugural Mother Jones Festival. Photo by Martin Duggan.

He played at festivals across the City and It was a great honour for the Cork Mother Jones Committee to have him come each year to do the honours for the Lord Mayor of Cork at our festival. Norman often returned to the festival events later with his wife Marie where he listened to the speakers and the music and he really enjoyed the songs and the craic of the Cork Singers’ Club. Possessing a vast knowledge of Irish history he had a repertoire of stories and funny incidents which he told with a warmth, sincerity and humanity. His admiration for the Cork girl who went on to become Mother Jones was total. 

Norman O’Rourke in Shandon in 2012.
Norman O’Rourke with Marat Moore in 2012.

He was extremely proud of his family and spoke of his love and support for them. 

Norman’s beloved pipes may be silent for now but his warm heart lives on.

We offer our sympathy to Marie, his children and his family.       

Norman O’Rourke with his good friend, Richard T. Cooke.
Finbarr Archer with Norman.
Norman chatting with Richard T. Cooke and Ann Rea on the Cork Mother Jones Committee at the Festival in 2024.

     

Norman pipes in the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle accompanied by Cork’s Mother Jones to the Festival in 2024.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=733975582948231

A Colourful Launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2025.

Posted on by
Reply

In what must rank as one of the most exciting exhibitions of dancing and singing ever seen at the festival, Kalyna Choir and the Mexican Community dancers combined to produce a riot of colour, sound and joy to celebrate the official Launch of the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival at the Maldron Hotel Shandon.

Earlier the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergus Dennehy presided at the formal launch of the fourteenth festival. 

After being escorted to the stage by his neighbour Joan Goggin as Mother Jones, the Lord Mayor described the forthcoming festival as a “festival of courage” and ‘while Mother Jones was a powerful voice for justice and workers solidarity, the fight for justice goes on and the forthcoming international festival helps to highlight the spirit of Cork born Mother Jones who fought all her life for social justice.  He added that we are not just commemorating history, but we want to rekindle the flame of activism that Mother Jones lit over a century ago. Its the flame that still burns in every worker who looks for fair wages and in every child who dreams of a future which is free from exploitation.”

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy with Lady Mayoress, Karen Brennan and members of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Ann Piggott presents a photograph of Mother Jones to Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy, and Lady Mayoress, Karen Brennan.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy and his guitar.

Cork Mother Jones Committee member Ann Piggott in introducing the Lord Mayor referred to the loss of  committee member Richard T Cooke, who had introduced previous Lord Mayors.  She praised all his community work and his work to promote the spirit of  Mother Jones across Cork city. A minute’s silence was held in Richards’ honour.

Ann also mentioned the late Joe Sheehan whose anniversary is today and John Jefferies who had also contributed so much to various festivals.

The Lord Mayor described Richard T Cooke as “a man of remarkable talent who brought people together and his legacy will live on in the communities across Cork which benefited from his great work and talents.” 

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress with the ladies of the Cobh Animation Team. Photo courtesy of Claire Stack.
Joan, Eadaoin and Aoife Goggin.

Choir Kalyna in their native costumes then sang a number of Ukrainian songs especially poignant as their country was under serious bombing attack overnight. The Mexican Community Choir in their native clothes and wide sombreros added to the occasion. The ladies from Cobh Animation further adorned the occasion.

Joan Goggin then sang, “The Half Door”, John Nyhan added “This Land is Your Land” while the Lord Mayor with guitar in hand rounded off a spectacular launch to what promises to be a very interesting 2025 festival with “Folsom Prison Blues” and Cork’s own Jimmy McCarthy’s “Ride On’. Our thanks to the staff and management of the Maldron Hotel and to all who contributed to what was an inspiring occasion.  

The Lord Mayor, Cllr Fergal Dennehy sings Folsom Prison Blues.
Johnny Nyhan
Joan Goggin

Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School Launch 2025.

Posted on by
Reply

The 14th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School will be formally launched by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Fergal Dennehy on Friday 4th July at 1:00 pm at the Maldron Hotel in Shandon.

We look forward to welcoming the wonderful Choir Kalyna as they perform songs from their homeland to this event. 

We are all looking forward to an exciting international festival beginning in just three weeks time on Thursday 24th and continuing to Saturday 26th.

It is packed with talks, walks, songs, music and theater all to celebrate the inspirational spirit of Mother Jones. All are welcome. 

Festival programmes are available in the local libraries and many shops around Cork. 

Or one can find them online at www.motherjonescork.com

Mother Jones by Kathleen Scarboro.

We wish to thank Kathleen Scarboro for permission to use her portrait of Mother Jones as the face of the 2025 festival.

Historic Visit by the Lord Mayor of Cork to the future site for the Sculpture of Mother Jones in Chicago.

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Memorable Launch to Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2024.

Posted on by
Reply

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
Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir.
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.

Enjoying the Launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones 2024. Photo: Claire Stack.
Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle with some committee members and friends.
Cork Mother Jones Committee at the Launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2024. Photo: Claire Stack.
John Nyhan with James Nolan. Photo: Claire Stack.
Geraldine McCarthy, Ann Rea with Richard T. Cooke. Photo: Claire Stack.
Richard T. Cooke, with Aoife and Eadaoin Delaney, along with Joan Goggin (Mother Jones) at the recent launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
Local singer, Dave McGrath. Photo: Claire Stack.

Spectacular Launch of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2023.

Posted on by
Reply

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy launched the 12th annual Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival this morning at Shandon.

Accompanied by Mother Jones (Joan Goggin), the Lord Mayor was led into the Maldron Hotel, Shandon by Cork piper, Norman O’Rourke. The Lord Mayor praised the efforts of the Cork Mother Jones Committee, which through this annual festival ensures that the extraordinary life of Mother Jones spent in defending social justice, labour rights and fair play for all remains a vital and essential element of democracy to this day.

Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy with Mother Jones and Norman O’Rourke.

The Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna were our special guests at the spectacular launch and brought the gathering to its feet with several songs from their native land. Accompanied by the Lord Mayor himself, their beautiful version of “Danny Boy” brought a huge response. Folk singer Johnny Nyhan then gave a very poignant rendering of the anti-war song “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” which concluded amidst some tears and indeed when will some people ever learn?

Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna.

The event was also graced by the attendance of the Cobh Animation Team and members of Cork Art Link. 

Cork Ukrainian Choir with the Cobh Animation Team

It was a memorable launch to the 2023 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Our thanks to all.

Bogdarra Piasetska (artist), Agata Kozlowska, Liz Cremin, Aaron O’ Connor, Joe Lyons and Olha Davydenko of Cork Art Link.
Cobh Animation Team members, Liz Forrest and Viv Hally.

The Cork Ukrainian Choir – Kalyna will again appear at the formal opening of the festival on Thursday 27th July at 1:00 pm. Do not miss them!

Cllr. Kieran McCarthy with a photograph of the portrait of Mother Jones (Lindsay Hand) following the presentation by Ann Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.