A gathering of some former Vita Cortex workers was held at the recent Spirit of Mother Jones Summer School under moderator Anne Piggott, member of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Left to Right: Greg Marshall, Jim Power, Sean Kelleher, Denis Ryan, Tom Ronan, Darren O’Keefe (supporter), Helen Crowley. Also present were Connie Griffin and Henry O’Reilly.
The discussion which took place among the former workers was both engaging and inspiring and often very humorous as they discussed events during the 161 day sit-in at the Vita Cortex factory, which manufactured foam for the furniture industry on the Kinsale Road in Cork.
Just before Christmas 2012 on the 16th December, while planning for their Christmas Party, the workers were told the shocking news that the factory was being closed and they were being made redundant and would not receive their pay.
Instead of meekly accepting their lot, the twenty three workers began a sit-in at the factory which continued for 161 day until May 2013 when after negotiations under the Labour Relations Commission between the union and the owners they were paid their full outstanding redundancy payments by the owners of the company.
Anne Taylor, President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions speaking at the Festival. Greg Marshall looks on.
The sit-in which captured the imagination of the country and gained massive support from the local people of Ballyphehane and Cork as well as messages of support from all over Ireland and the wider world, finally ended on 24th May. They appeared on national television and spoke on all the major radio stations as well as obtaining extensive newspaper coverage. Some of their supporters were highly skilled on social media and the story of the Vita Cortex workers basically went viral.
Huge marches of support organised by the Trade Union movement were held in Cork City and attracted great support from the ordinary people of Cork. The Vita Cortex workers were invited to Aras an Uachtarain to meet President Michael D. Higgins, where they had a fantastic day out.
The workers gathered at the Summer School to tell their inspiring story of the one hundred and sixty one day sit-in at the factory during the Spirit Of Mother Jones Festival. They received a standing ovation from the large crowd present. Mother Jones would have been proud of these brave workers.
A presentation was made during the recent festival to Ted Tynan by James Nolan on behalf of the Cork Mother Jones Committee for his help and support over many years for the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
James Nolan of the Cork Mother Jones Committee makes a presentation to Ted Tynan.
Ted is a founding member of the committee and worked on many of the initial festivals. He has attended all fifteen festivals and participated in the discussions at events over the years. His advice and his assistance and his experience is valued highly by all of the various committees who organise each festival.
He was involved in selecting the lovely plaque celebrating Mother Jones, which was designed by renowned sculptor Mick Wilkins and erected in Shandon in 2012 for the 175th anniversary of her birth. Today this monument is a noted landmark on the North side of Cork City and is visited by many people from all over the world.
Ted responses to the presentation in the company of the acting Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald and Anne Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee..
First elected as a Workers Party Councillor in 1979, Ted retired in May of this year. He has said that he was always inspired by Mother Jones who fought for the workers.
We wish Ted and his wife Carmel well in retirement and we are delighted to make this presentation to him for all his work for the recognition in Cork of Mary Harris who became known as Mother Jones.
Carmel and Ted Tynan at the presentation ceremony.
Left to Right at the Presentation: Ger O’Mahony, Brian O’Rourke, Anne Piggott, and Eadaoin Delaney. Photo: Emma.
Joan Goggin.
Joan was a familiar sight at the festival, dressed as Mother Jones in her Victorian outfit and being present at launches, openings or just attending some of the many events.
When not at the festival she often joined the picket lines at strikes in the city especially whenever nurses were involved.
Daughter of union man Bill Martin, she remembers her father telling her that Jim Larkin used to visit their home on Bandon road, when he came to Cork.
Joan passed away on March 26th 2026. May she rest in peace.
A memorial plaque was presented to her daughter Eadaoin Delaney on behalf of the Cork Mother Jones committee.
Joan Goggin 2022 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
Norman O’Rourke
Norman attended many festivals and his stirring bagpipes piped in the Lord Mayors of Cork at the launches and openings of the Spirit of Mother Jones festivals. He was indeed a familiar sight at festivals, matches and Republican ceremonies around Cork and beyond for decades. Norman was thrilled to receive a Lord Mayor’s Community Award in 2024 and he was even more thrilled with his image on a large banner which hung on the Grand Parade for many years where it overlooked the Gaza marches on Saturdays.
Norman passed away on 27th August 2025. To Marie, his wife and to Brian, Dara, Niamh, Breffni and Cliona we extend our sympathy. Brian accepted the plaque on behalf of the O’ Rourke family and afterwards took it to St.Finbarr’s hospital to present to his mother Marie.
May Norman rest in peace.
Norman O’Rourke (Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2023).
Tom Boland lectures in Sociology at University College Cork. He has two principal research interests:
Tom Boland. Lecturer in Sociology in University College Cork.
Firstly, the sociology of unemployment and welfare policy. For over a decade, he has conducted interviews with unemployed people on their experience of redundancy, being out of work and job seeking. Simultaneously, he conducts national and comparative research on welfare policy, particularly around activation, that is, the mixture of supports and pressure exerted by the state – and private companies – on unemployed citizens. Reflecting this research, he has produced three books, each with Dr. Ray Griffin (SETU); The Sociology of Unemployment (2015), The Reformation of Welfare (2021) and Workocracy (Forthcoming). He has given evidence to multiple parliamentary committees and featured frequently in newspapers and radio.
Secondly, the sociology of culture and critique. Since becoming involved with Occupy and anti-Austerity protests during the Great Financial Crash, he has been researching how critique is used in public disputes. At present, he is researching how critique is ‘co-opted’ by the right-wing; that is, how rhetorical moves, like ‘revealing the truth’ or ‘unmasking ideology’ are borrowed from the left and used for anti-left purposes. This research is the basis of a forthcoming book Taking Criticism, which builds on a more theoretical precursor The Spectacle of Critique (2019).
Tom will speak on the topic of ‘This Land is Our Land; Confronting Extremism and Reclaiming Democracy.’ as a member of a panel discussion with Gema Kloppe- Santamaria and John Donoghue.
Moderator. John Barimo
Friday evening 24th july at 7.30 pm at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon.
afilm by Frameworks Films and the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Release Date: July 2014.
Runtime: 52 min.
Ger Omah
8:00 AM (39 minutes ago)
to me
“Mother Jones and her Children”
afilm by Frameworks Films and the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Release Date: July 2014.
Runtime: 52 min.
Mother Jones and her children by Frameworks Films. 2014.
Mother Jones and Her Children tells the story of Mary Harris (1837 – 1930) from Cork who went on to become “the most dangerous woman in America”.
Starting with her early years in Cork, this documentary goes on to detail her life in America following the famine where she trained as a teacher and a seamstress, her marriage to a union man George Jones and the birth of her four children in Memphis.
It tells of the tragedies which befell her. The loss of her four children and her husband to Yellow Fever in 1867 would have broken most people, yet as a 30 year old widow on her own, she kept on working and living. Even after her clothes business was burned in the Chicago Fire of 1871 she survived and began to immerse herself in the growing labour movement in America.
She joined the “Knights of Labour”, and became active in that organisation which preceded the growth of the actual trade union movement. Many Irish joined trade unions and became active in the trade union structures, their vast contribution to the story of labour and its positive impact on the conditions of working people and on the quality of their lives remains largely untold and unrecognised in Ireland.
Plaque by Mick Wilkins erected in Shandon in 2012 by the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Mary Jones was unique in that she was one of the first female trade union organisers and her involvement in the struggles of the miners has become the stuff of Legend. She defended the rights of children and workers and this is detailed in the documentary. Her organisation of the March of the Mill Children in 1903 contributed to the eventual banning of child labour from the mines, mills and factories of America.
Mother Jones became a national figure, a woman who was fearless, but was feared in the gorgeous mahogany furnished boardrooms of America. After decades of activism, she died on 30th November 1930 at the age of 93 and is buried in Mt Olive Union Cemetery in Illinois.
Through interviews with leading experts on Mother Jones, we learn of her fearless and tireless campaign to organise workers at a time of severe labour strife and her international legacy today.
This documentary will be shown at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon on Thursday 23rd July 2026 at 11:00 am.
It will be followed by a presentation by Dr. Ed Lahiff on the life of Mother Jones as based on the book published by Professor Elliott J. Gorn in 2001 entitled Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman In America. There will be time for a discussion afterwards.
Mother Jones celebrating her birthday on the 1st May 1930 at the Burgess Farm in Maryland.
Supporters of Labour and union activist Mother Jones are presently celebrating her “American birthday”, which Mother herself claimed was on 1st May.
Celebrating Mother Jones’ birthday in Chicago are Hector Arellano of the Bricklayers Union and Brigid Duffy as Mother Jones of Chicago. The photo is by the Mother Jones Heritage Project.
This coincides with May Day which is celebrated as workers day across the world and is based on the campaign for an eight hour day by labour unions in America in 1886.
SIPTU plaque at the Haymarket in Chicago.The Haymarket Incident in Chicago.
While the Haymarket incident took place on the 4th May, the subsequent execution of four innocent workers for the deaths of the policemen after a union meeting in Haymarket Square has been commemorated for the past 140 years.
Deeply influenced by the events at the Haymarket, Mary Harris repeatedly refers to the labour martyrs for the eight hour day in her writings and appears to have said later in her life that she was born on 1st May 1830 as part of her Mother Jones persona.
However records at the North Cathedral in Cork show that she was baptised on the first day of August 1837. So she was probably born on the 31st July as children in Ireland were baptised as early as possible after birth. Church records state that Mary Harris was baptised by Fr. John O’Mahony, her parents were Richard Harris and Mary Cotter and her sponsors were James Hennessy and Ellen Leary.
The North Cathedral of St. Mary and Anne, CorkCertificate of birth and baptism.
Of interest is that the baptism font used that morning almost 190 years ago still remains in use today in the Cathedral.
The original baptism font in which Mary Harris was baptised on the 1st August 1837.
So the annual Spirit of Mother Jones festival takes place in the Shandon Historic Quarter in late July to honour Mother Jones’s annual Irish birthday. All are welcome to the events and to attend the annual toast to Mother Jones using the best Irish whiskey at her Plaque in Shandon thus completing the second annual birthday celebrations of this remarkable woman.
The annual toast to Mother Jones at her plaque in Shandon.
In 2026 the dates of the Spirit of Mother Jones festival and summer school are from Thursday 23rd July until Saturday 25th July.
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.
“The Organised Society and Role of the Labour Movement.”
The former General Secretary of the National Union of Rail,Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) Union, Mick Lynch returned to Cork to speak at the Spirit of Mother Jones festival 2025.
He spoke about the role of the Labour Movement in society.
Mick Lynch. Photo: Emma Bowell.
Thanks to JASE Media Services and after receiving many inquiries we are showing his entire talk which took place at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
Relevant, interesting and challenging are the criteria for presentations and lectures at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Mick Lynch certainly delivered in this talk. We hope you will watch the video and listen to his ideas.
Mick Lynch: Photo: Angela Flynn.Joan Goggin and Ann Piggott with Mick Lynch. Photo: Emma Bowell.
Des Geraghty, Karan Casey, Mick Lynch and Ethel Buckley at the Cork Butter Exchange in Shandon.
Mick Lynch speaking at the weekly Gaza March in Cork City. Photo: Angela Flynn.Mick Lynch at the Mother Jones plaque.Mick Lynch with the Mexican Community Dance Group.
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.
As Mairead O’Hara and Joan Goggin performed their songs at the plaque on Saturday evening, the Irish whiskey toasts were being organised and with one further and final toast to the Slainte and Solidarity of Mother Jones, the 14th annual Spirit of Mother Jones drew to a close after three full days and nights.
Mairead O’Hara sings at the plaque. Photo: Emma Bowell
After 33 hours of diverse events, involving over 100 participants from several nationalities and hundreds of people each day in attendance, the festival volunteers who organised and the participants who made it work looked tired and content. Another successful festival and summer school completed in Shandon with many highlights, some memorable, some difficult and some unforgettable.
Joan Goggin sings at the plaque. Photo: Emma Bowell.
An international meitheal of people working together as a festival community in support of social justice, human rights, labour and union solidarity certainly can celebrate the legacy of the full and eventful life of local girl Mary Harris, 175 years after she left these very streets for the final time. Although she died 95 years ago she lives on wherever people struggle for justice. Her slogan “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living” is still heard from the Halls of the US Congress to Ukraine and from the President of Ireland to the streets of Cork to the Palestinian solidarity demonstrations across the world.
March of the Mill Children, Shandon 2019. Photo: Claire Stack.Displayed in the US Congress recently,
It all began early on Thursday morning with a showing of the Frameworks Films produced Mother Jones and Her Children. This documentary filmed in both Cork and the USA and produced in 2014 remains one of the few visual accounts of the extraordinary life and achievements of Mary Harris/Mother Jones and contains the only existing interview with Mother Jones herself and film of the unveiling of the Cork Mother Jones plaque in 2012..
David Carroll from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions then spoke of the timely ICTU efforts to combat racism in workplaces and in society in general, his eye-opening factual presentation of the real facts about the contribution immigrants to Ireland are making to Irish society should be shown in every workplace, school and community centre in Ireland!
Left to Right: Anne Taylor, President Cork Council of Trade Unions, David Carroll, Speaker, ICTU, and Ann Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee.
Raghad Abu-Shamala in the course of an emotional talk spoke of the morale boost which the Irish efforts to support Palestine bring to the people of Gaza. Raghad explained how as a colonised people their dream of freedom is influenced by the example of Ireland throwing off our occupation by colonists and proceeding to the creation of a democratic republic which stands up for human rights. Raghad expressed the hope that one day the Palestinian people will turn this dream into reality also and that the Irish people will continue to assist them to attain this dream.. We must hope too that Raghad can return and construct that dream of a free Palestine.
Raghad Abu-Shamala with John Barimo, Cork Mother Jones Committee. Photo: Emma Bowell.
The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy accompanied by Lady Mayoress Karen Brennan performed the official opening of the fourteenth festival, praised the work of Mother Jones and even gave us a song or two. The President of the Cork Council of Trade Unions, Anne Taylor gave a welcome address. This was followed by the presentation of the 2025 Spirit of Mother Jones Award to Arthur Leahy. The venue was packed to capacity for the reading of the Citation and it was very evident that Arthur was a very popular, inspired and worthy choice to receive the award in 2025.. Did we notice a tear or two as Arthur quietly accepted the award? His accomplishments in Cork over the past half century, usually achieved out of the limelight and in an unassuming manner, were worthy of many awards. He joins a worthy role of honour of activists who have received this annual award from the people of Cork such as Loiuse O’Keeffe, Antoinette Keegan, Gareth Peirce, Mick Lynch, Don O’Leary and the people of Palestine.
The colourful and dignified Kalyna Choir then celebrated the resilience of their war torn homeland under attack from Russia on a daily basis and brought home to the attendance their efforts to defend the freedom of their country. It has to be difficult emotionally when one’s families and friends are facing constant attack in their own communities which they had to leave after the invasion in 2022..
Kalyna Choir from Ukraine. Photo: William Hammond
Blanca Rice told the inspiring story of Pat Rice of Fermoy and explained how her father had survived incarceration and torture in an Argentinian prison in 1976 as a result of his defiant defence of human rights in the country after the coup by the military junta. He was released as a result of efforts by his family and friends in Fermoy and the Irish consulate to highlight his plight. After leaving the priesthood, Pat subsequently married a fellow detainee Fatima Cabrera, and went on to raise a family of three children. He continued to fight for human rights across the world until he died on July 8th 2010 and today represents an inspiration for the human spirit in the face of adversity. Perhaps one day Fermoy will create a permanent memorial to honour Pat Rice.
Blanca Rice speaking at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2025. Photo: Emma Bowell.
Almost 50 years afterwards, one is left to wonder if human civilization has advanced at all when listening to the description of the ongoing depraved horrors taking place in Gaza, from Jilan Wahba Abdalmajiid, the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.
Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajiid, speaking at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
The “Gaza Monologues’ an Asktar Theatre Production, presented by West Cork for Palestine with its horrific daily descriptions by eye witnesses of life and death in that land confirmed the bleak genocide taking place. All the while a further generation of politicians across Europe of all places close their eyes to the ongoing destruction by Israel, the eviction of a people from their land and the growing ‘Trump Famine’, which sears the souls of Irish people in whom the Irish Famine is in the DNA. Mary Harris lives through the horrors of the ‘Great Hunger” on the very streets of Cork outside the doors of the Firkin Theatre where this was performed.
The sad story of environmentalist Petra Kelly left one also to wonder if there’s any hope for the entire Earth anyway as climate change seems to be impacting more and more. One had high hopes of the young people and school children taking up the challenge to bring about real environmental change yet the virtual disappearance of the thousands of young activists of the Fridays for Future gatherings appears to suggest otherwise.
Still the songs of hope and union solidarity and battles won and battles lost by the singers of the legendary Cork Singers Club renewed the spirits as the sunny July evening turned into darkness. David Curtin from Midleton sang his new Mother Jones song too to general acclaim!
A very late night of songs and stories and not a musical instrument to be heard. Thank you Willie Hammond for organising this unique event.
Des GeraghtyJames GoltzLeyla Cooke.
David Curtin sings Mother Jones at the Festival. Photo: William Hammond.
Friday morning began with Nick MacWilliam, who told of the murders of teachers, trader unionists and human rights activists in Colombia, in a largely hidden campaign to prevent the establishment of democracy.
Then came a festival highlight as Daniel Draper’s new documentary Iron Ladies captivated the audience. In the very first public showing of this classic documentary about the women of the Miners Strike of 1984/5, the straight talking, earthy humour and revelations of the actions by these fearless women (no men in this documentary!), in the engine room of the miners’ strike came as an eye-opener to many. It was uplifting to learn of their respect for Mother Jones and what this Cork born woman meant to them. Yet the visits to this festival over the years by Betty Cook, Anne Scargill, Davy Hopper and many other activists of the Miners Strike had made it clear to many how much the women really contributed during this strike and how their activism has continued over the past four decades since.
“When you’re fighting for survival you’ve got nothing left to lose”. Mal Finch’s Women of the Working Class about the women who fought alongside the miners resonate through history and you can see them in ‘Iron Ladies’. They are indeed the proud daughters of Mother Jones!. This documentary was directed by Daniel Draper of Shut out the Light Films (www.shutoutthelight.co.uk)
The songs, stories and poetry of Jimmy Crowley and Eve Telford again provided a tapestry of working people’s lives, travels and tall tales to an appreciative audience. Jimmy has managed to keep alive the ballads of ordinary people throughout Cork and beyond.
Mick Lynch, now retired from his union, discussed the role of the Labour movement in society and appealed for unity among democratic and progressive activists to defend the freedoms won. In the course of a challenging talk, he praised the efforts to stop the division between migrants and working class communities generated by the far right, so that they can move forward in a spirit of working class solidarity. He asked for the construction of social houses to be retained under the democratic control of the people where the rents paid would be used to construct more affordable homes. Mr Lynch encouraged people to stay active and involved in the Labour movement and not resign or depart to pursue worthy causes which could be more successfully pursued by the movement as a powerful united entity. As an orator, a thoughtful and challenging thinker of the Labour movement, Mick has few equals today!
Mick Lynch visits Nolan s Butcher Shop on Shandon Street. Photo: Myra Nolan
Another union orator and leader of labour joined us on Zoom afterwards as President Cecil E Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America told us the history of this historically important union, the union of Mother Jones. She was employed as a union organiser by the UMWA, one of the first women to take on this dangerous task. President Roberts has a personal connection also in that his great grandmother was known as Ma Blizzard, who was a trusted friend of Mother Jones in the union battles on Cabin Creek and Paint Creek in West Virginia during what became known as the “Mine Wars”. We acknowledge the assistance of James Goltz of Mt Olive in organising this historic interview during the festival. We wish President Roberts a long and happy retirement and a welcome always in Cork..
Shandon Plaza was then the location for a thrilling dance by the Mexican Community Dancers celebrating Madre Juanita for her support for the Mexican revolutionaries. Let’s hope none of the startled motorists and passerbys thought another revolution was taking place in front of the Butter Market!
Mexican Community Dancers.The Mexican Community Dancers with Mick Lynch at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane.
We only Want the Earth: The Life and Ideas James Connolly isa documentary written and directed by Alan Gilsenan of Yellow Asylum Films and with Des Geraghty as the driving force and executive producer. This thoughtful documentary tells the story of James Connolly, who led the Citizen Army in the 1916 Rising and who was executed soon afterwards. But We only Want the Earth concentrates on Connolly’s working life and union ideas and places his socialist labour views and his social vision for the construction of the structures required for a new society, into the modern Irish context. In this way Connolly’s vision lives on and his analysis remains relevant today. This documentary succeeds and makes one wonder what Connolly would think of Ireland today ……..do go see it!.
A panel discussion led by SIPTU Assistant General Secretary, Ethel Buckley, with Mick Lynch, Karan Casey and Des Geraghty followed.
Left to right: Des Geraghty, executive producer of We Only Want the Earth, Karan Casey, Mick Lynch and Ethel Buckley, at the Cork Buttermarket.
John Nyhan and George Mann, himself a former union organiser from New York then sang labour and union songs to complete a most remarkable day devoted to the common thread of labour heritage and history from the USA, the UK and Ireland.
Saturday began very early with local historian Peter Foynes strolling through the Shandon Historic District and offering his comments and unique insights into this district with its treasure trove of the history of this city. One can really appreciate why the community of Shandon on the hill is the beating and vibrant heart of Cork City. St’ Finbarr is credited with founding Cork but one suspects that the people living on this hill were there well before him.
Joe Noonan questioned whether environmental law and justice are allies or enemies. A capacity and attentive audience listened to this experienced lawyer with his rare legal skills and firsthand knowledge of the many community campaigns to which he has contributed. During his presentation he offered a blueprint for creating a successful community campaign to enforce environmental laws which should protect and enhance rather than undermine communities.
Speaker, Joe Noonan receiving a presentation from Ann Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee. Photo: Emma Bowell.
Mike Allen discussed the homeless statistics which form the basis for the ongoing crisis of the lack of affordable accommodation in Ireland and which is leading to the external flight of young people and growing inequality internally in Ireland.
Mike Allen with Ed Lahiff of the Cork Mother Jones Committee
Speaker, Jack Lane with Dominic O’Callaghan of the Cork Mother Jones Committee. Photo: Emma Bowell.
The festival concluded with historians Jack Lane looking at the lives of Roger Casement, Anne Twomey speaking of women who had made their mark in Cork such as Anna Haslam, Suzanne Rouviere Day, Jennie Dowdall and Eileen Desmond. Luke Dineen examined the life, times and ideology of James Larkin. These speakers all offered insights into people who have made their mark in Ireland, some are well known and many mostly women who have made an often invisible contribution should be known. Anne Twomey and the Shandon Area History group have attempted to rectify this anomaly of history. . .
Left to right: Ann Rea, Anne Twomey and Dominic O’Callaghan. Photo: Emma Bowell.
The gathering at the plaque followed and a list of friends and festival attendees no longer with us was read to the large attendance. May all rest in peace.
George Mann from New York City sings at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Photo by Emma Bowell.
Martin Leahy and Dee Power along with George Mann, Rory McCarthy, Joan Goggin, William Hammond and Mairead O Hara performed in what became a fantastic impromptu session of music and songs by the side of the street. James Nolan finally called for the annual toast to Mother Jones and it was duly performed in the warm glow of the low evening sunshine appearing from the west which breaks from behind the old Butter Market building at the top of the street. Slainte do Mother Jones!
Martin Leahy, and Dee Power with Ann Piggott at the plaque.
It had been a fitting celebration of the Spirit of Mother Jones, on the streets where Mary Harris walked, a spirit which lives on wherever people gather to organise against injustice. In a prescient observation, United States Senator Bernie Sanders remarked at the plaque a few weeks ago, “the world needs Mother Jones more than ever”. As we fast approach the centenary of her death, she is being recognised more and more as representing the true rebel spirit of Cork to the wider world..
The Cork Mother Jones Committee 2025 with Arthur Leahy recipient of the Spirit of Mother Jones Award 2025 and Joan Goggin, Cork’s Mother Jones.Martin Leahy, John Nyhan and William Hammond play at the plaque. Photo by Emma Bowell.Angela Flynn at the plaque. Photo by Emma Bowell.
8:00 AM (39 minutes ago)
