March of the Mill Children re-enacted in Shandon, Cork

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 / Admin / Leave a comment

A re-creation of March of the Mill Children was held on 31st July 2019 and was staged by Cork Community Art Link. It was directed by Beibhinn O’ Callaghan and Elisa Gallo Rossi.

https://youtu.be/S-4tNBCcqBc

The event took place on the historic streets of Shandon in Cork city in conjunction with the Cork Mother Jones Committee as part of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2019. Ms Joan Goggin was Mother Jones. The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. John Sheehan attended.

We thank everyone who participated in what was is a historic event which commemorated the original event led by Mary Harris\Mother Jones from Philadelphia to New York during three weeks in July 1903.

For more information on the background of the original March of the Mill Children see our previous article here:https://motherjonescork.com/2019/06/25/mother-jones-and-the-march-of-the-mill-children/

Best wishes to Shandon Street Festival 2019

June 16, 2019 / Admin / Leave a comment

The Cork Mother Jones Committee would like to extend our best wishes to all involved at the Shandon Street Festival as they prepare for their 2019 festival which takes place next Saturday, 22nd June in and around Shandon Street on Cork’s Northside. The festival runs from 1 to 6pm and will have something for all the family.

Shandon Street Festival 2019

The Shandon Street Festival is in many ways a sister festival of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. It was with tremendous help from the Shandon Street Committee that we got off the ground in 2012 and many of the same individuals play a key role in both festivals which take place in the same area of the city.

Shandon Street fesstival (outside)

Inside of Flyer / programme

Shandon is Ready for Mother Jones!

July 31, 2018 / Admin / Leave a comment

Shandon, Cork City

The flowers are blooming, the window displays are resplendent and the streets are gleaming in the Shandon area as it awaits tomorrow’s start of the 7th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School which begins tomorrow (Wednesday) and runs until Saturday, 4th August. Our thanks to all concerned.

Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2018 – Information for Visitors

July 29, 2018July 29, 2018 / Admin / Leave a comment

The 2018 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2018 starts on Wednesday, 1st August and runs until the evening of Saturday, 4th August. This year we have a new venue in addition to our now established venues at the Maldron Hotel and the Firkin Crane Theatre. That new venue is the North Cathedral Visitor Centre at the side of Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Ann on Roman Street. All three venues are within a few minutes walking distance of one another in the Shandon area just to the north of Cork city centre.

The Maldron Hotel

The Maldron Hotel

The Maldron Hotel is situated on John Redmond Street in what was formerly Cork’s historic North Infirmary hospital. All of this year’s Music events will be held in the cosy atmosphere of Bells Bar in the hotel.

The Firkin Crane Theatre

The Firkin Crane Theatre is just 200 metres from theMaldron. This iconic circular building from 1855 was originally part of Cork’s historic butter market but is now used primarily as a centre for dance, especially ballet, and for other music and theatrical events. The Firkin Crane will be the venue of a number of lectures / talks during the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2018

Cathedral Visitor Centre

The Cathedral Visitor Centre is located to the rear of Cork’s North Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Ann) and can be accessed from just around the corner at Roman Street. It is within 5 minutes walk of our other venues and will be the venue for many of the films and talks during the festival

Our sincere thanks the the management of all three venues for their assistance and cooperation with our festival.

How to get there:

Venue Map with Shandon Steeple at its centre

Bus Service.

The 202 and 202A bus travelling northside from the City Centre (Merchants Quay stop) will take one to the door of both the Maldron Hotel and the Cathedral Visitor Centre and to within 200 metres to the Firkin Crane Theatre. The City Tour Bus stops also at the Firkin Crane Theatre as a regular stop on it’s City wide tour.

Walking distances.

Maldron is 5 minutes from Christy Ring Bridge (Opera House)

Firkin Theatre is 8 minutes from Christy Ring Bridge

Cathedral Visitor Centre is 10 minutes from Christy Ring Bridge.

Car Parks.

Pay car park in the grounds of the North Cathedral.

Carrolls Quay or Paul Street car parks are nearby.

Music at the Maldron 2017

June 4, 2017June 5, 2017 / Admin / Leave a comment

Jimmy Crowley and Richard T. Cooke

Music at the Maldron

Among the liveliest events at the Spirit of Mother Jones festival are a lunch time series of concerts held at the Maldron Hotel each day (Wednesday to Friday 1 to 2pm) featuring some wonderful Cork singers and musicians. Organised and compered by the irrepressible Richard T Cooke, these “Music at the Maldron” sessions should not be missed. Come along and enjoy……see you there!

Lunchtime Song & Music Concerts

Richard T. Cooke MC

Wednesday, August 2nd

Muddy Lee & Shandon Street Shawlies Choir

Frances O’ Sullivan

(Traditional Singer, Cork Rokk Choir)

The Vocalic

Clann Chorcai members:

Aoife Delaney (Young Mother Jones, Singer, Actor)

Joan Goggin (Singer, Poet, Actor)

Eadaoin Delaney (Singer, Musician, Poet, Actor)

Singer, Actor and Poet, Joan Goggin dressed as “Mother Jones”. Picture: Andy Jay

NICHE: Sing Your Heart Out Group members:

Rose Broderick, Nuala Panek,

David McGrath (Singers)

Thursday, August 3rd

Mother Jones Ceili Band Concert & Guests

Friday, August 4th

The Jimmy Crowley Concert

Cork born, international renowned recording artist and author

performs a selection of songs from his songbook in his own quintessential Cork style.

Admission Free

Richard T. Cooke (centre) with Lord Mayor Des Cahill and the Shandon Street Shawlies at last year’s festival. Photo (c) Martin Duggan.

Shandon area spruced up, flowers for Mother Jones

May 28, 2017 / Admin / Leave a comment

The Mother Jones plaque with fresh flowers

The Shandon area has been freshly spruced up thanks to the work of Shandon Tidy Towns, Shandon Area Renewal Association (S.A.R.A) and the local community. Weeds and overgrowth have been removed and fresh flowers are up at the Mother Jones plaque on John Redmond Street.

Looking good folks!

“A Plastic Ocean” at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School 2017.

April 30, 2017May 3, 2017 / Admin / Leave a comment

Plastic Ocean – floating plastic

The Cork Mother Jones Committee will screen the stunning environmental film “A Plastic Ocean” at the sixth Spirit of Mother Jones festival on Thursday afternoon 3^rd August 2017 at the Firkin Theatre in Shandon. While many regard tackling climate change as being vital to the survival of the planet, other threats are also accumulating in the environment.

This film investigates how the world’s increasing addiction to plastic is impacting the food chain and how that is effecting every one of us through new and developing human health problems. The results will astound viewers as the film captures never-before-seen images of marine life under threat from plastics.

A Plastic Ocean – film poster

A Plastic Ocean is filmed in 20 locations around the world and documents in chilling detail the effects of the some 8 million tons of plastic which we dump in the world’s oceans annually. Each year some 300 million tons of plastic are manufactured in the world, half of which we use just once before we dump it, making it one of mankind’s most destructive inventions.

The film follows documentary film maker Craig Leeson and a free diver Tanya Streeter, who while filming the blue whale, discover huge quantities of plastic floating in the waters off Sri Lanka. What follows is a global odyssey to discover what is happening in the oceans around the world.

Taking four years to film, and costing some $3.5 million the results should force people to question the plastic pathway and urge industry and all of us users to seek safe alternative solutions.

The evidence of plastic pollution which the film makers found shocked them and made them question a world where plastic is everywhere, yet few question why we produce so much, use so much and where it goes when discarded. The build-up of micro plastics and the creation of ocean garbage patches places the viability of the world’s oceans to sustain life under huge pressure.

Tanya Streeter on the island of Tuvalu

The ratio of plastic to plankton in the Mediterranean Sea is 1:2, in some places the small plastic particles outnumber plankton by a ratio of 26:1. A large amount of discarded plastic carries toxic chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, pesticides and PCBs. Over 90% of seabirds worldwide have plastic pieces in their stomachs. If this trend continues, and with studies showing that plastic is entering the food chains, then what is the future for human health and our very planet?

Plastics are created from the oil hydrocarbons and one solution would be to return plastics to oil. The search for bacteria to break plastic molecules down continues but the oceans or indeed the earth are not able to do so. Some proposed solutions such as incineration create many toxic and poisonous emissions to the environment. Have the plastic manufacturers any real answers to safeguarding the environment from their products?

Oil – leaves lasting damage

Plastic Oceans is a global network of independent not for profits and charitable organisations, united in their aim to change the world’s attitude towards plastic within a generation.

“A Plastic Ocean” will be screened on Thursday afternoon 3^rd August at the Firkin Theatre in Shandon as a contribution to an “Environment Day” at the Spirit of Mother Jones festival. Discussion to follow. All are welcome. Further lectures on environmental issues will be announced shortly.

August 1st – Mother Jones Day

August 1, 2016August 3, 2016 / Admin / Leave a comment

Today, 1st August, is Mother Jones Day in Cork and it is also the final day of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2016.

There are just three events on today’s programme all of which will be held at the Maldron Hotel, Shandon. We start at 4.00pm with a showing of Tadhg Barry Remembered – the story of trade unionist, socialist and Irish republican Alderman Tadhg Barry who was shot dead by a sentry at Ballykinlar prison camp in November 1921, just hours before he was due to be released. The documentary was made by Cork based Frameworks Films.

At 6.00pm we show The Spirit of Mother Jones Festivals Highlights 2012-2015 which features some of the memorable moments of the first four years of the festival. Our thanks to Frameworks Films who have recorded a huge amount of material at the festival since 2012 and who have similarly created a repository of film recording Cork’s present and recent past which we are certain will become a huge resource for this city.

At 7.30pm Bandon born author and award winning journalist Justine McCarthy will deliver a lecture on “Greed is Good for Nothing”.

All of today’s events are at the Maldron Hotel, John Redmond Street in the Shandon area of Cork and are completely free.

Mt. Olive proclamation of friendship

August 31, 2014August 31, 2014 / Admin / Leave a comment

During the recent Spirit of Mother Jones Festival Mr James Goltz from Bunker Hill, Illinois presented the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Mary Shields with a proclamation from the community of Mount Olive, Illinois seeking “to extend a symbolic hand of friendship to our brothers and sisters in the birthplace of one so great in stature as the legendary Mother Jones”

The proclamation of friendship, supported by the Mount Olive Council and signed by Mr John M. Skertich, Mayor of Mt. Olive calls on both Mt. Olive and Cork together to ” celebrate her spirit while crediting her role in the history of both countries and in the globe. This common duty of stewardship stands as an unbreakable bond between our two cities.”

The Mt. Olive proclamation of friendship signed by Mayor John M. Skertich

Mother Jones passed away at the Burgess home in Hyattsville, Maryland on 30th November 1930. Her funeral was held on December 8th at the Church of the Ascension, the Mount Olive Catholic Church. From there, her remains were taken and buried in the Union Miners Cemetery at Mount Olive near the graves of the victims of the 1898 Virden Massacre.

Mayor Skertich concludes the proclamation by inviting an agreement between Cork and Mount Olive to “promise to safeguard and promote both her resting place and birthplace, as we celebrate her life by jointly continuing to tell the life story of this great Irish woman to a wider audience.”

James Goltz with Lord Mayor Mary Shields

James Goltz with Cork’s Lord Mayor Councillor Mary Shields at Cork City Hall.

The Cork Mother Jones Committee is delighted to support the initiative taken by the city of Mount Olive. The Shandon Area Renewal Association has already agreed to promote, encourage and foster the links between the community of the birthplace of Mary Harris/Mother Jones and the community where she now lies at rest. A motion supporting the adoption of the Mount Olive proclamation will be presented to Cork City Council and it is the fervent wish of all involved that it be supported and formal fraternal links be established between the custodians of her native birthplace and her chosen resting place.

Spirit of Mother Jones festival 2014 in pictures

August 2, 2014August 6, 2014 / Admin / Leave a comment

A selection of photos taken at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival, Cork

2014.

Ann Rea, Cork Mother Jones Committee and Firkin Crane with colleague from Firkin Crane. Photo: Jimmy Thomson.

Evening music session at the Maldron. Pic: Jimmy Thomson.

Music at the Maldron. Photo: Jimmy Thomson

Music at the Maldron with Ray Barron and Two Time Polka. Photo: Jimmy Thomson

Members of the Lions Youth Band, Cheshire

James Nolan of the Cork Mother Jones Committee, photo taken during visit to the Lord Mayor of Cork, Mary Shields at Cork City Hall. Photo: Jimmy Thomson.

Anne Scargill and Betty Cook, Women Against Pit Closures at the Firkin Crane with Yorkshire Mother Jones banner. Photo: Jimmy Thomson

Dave Hopper, Durham Miners Association with Michael Lally, Cork Mother Jones committee with presentation of framed scroll from the miners – at the Mother Jones Plaque, Pic: Jimmy Thomson.

Niamh who operated video camera, sound and stills throughout the festival. Photo: Richard T. Cooke

Committee member Ger McCarthy distributing shots of whiskey for a toast to Mother Jones at the Garden Party in the Butter Market.

Local residents. Photo: Richard T. Cooke

John Nyhan who assisted with the music events with friends at the Mother Jones Garden Party.

Jimmy Crowley with Committee members Richard T. Cooke (left) and William Hammond and friend at the Maldron.

James Goltz from the USA enjoying the songs of Jimmy Crowley at the Maldron. Pic: Richard T. Cooke

Committee member and website organiser John Jefferies enjoys a quick meal during a break in proceedings. Photo: Richard T. Cooke

Ailbhe Mahony, member of the Cork Mother Jones Committee distributing shots of Irish whiskey for the toast to Mother Jones on Mother Jones Day. Pic: Richard T. Cooke

Cork troubadour / song historian Jimmy Crowley, a true Cork legend, entertaining people at the Maldron Hotel. Photo: Richard T. Cooke

Geraldine McCarthy (centre) and Michael Lally of the Cork Mother Jones Committee receiving pennant and presentation from the Lions youth Band, Cheshire at the Mother Jones Garden Party, Cork. Photo: John Jefferies

Ladies in appropriate period dress with members of Cork Shawlies at the Mother Jones Garden party at Cork Butter Market. Photo: John Jefferies.

Lions Youth Band, Cheshire perform at the Mother Jones Garden Party, at Cork Butter Market, Shandon. Photo: John Jefferies

Some of those enjoying the Cork Mother Jones Garden Party. Despite rain showers the event was well attended and enjoyed by all. Photo: John Jefferies

Members of Lions Youth Band making presentation to Cork Mother Jones Committee with Ailbhe Mahony, Geraldine McCarthy and Michael Lally of the committee. Photo: John Jefferies.

Anne Scargill from Women Against Pit Closures, Yorkshire with Trevor Quinn, SIPTU and Cork Mother Jones Committee. Photo (c) John Jefferies

Tadhg O'Sullivan, Allihies Copper mining museum who spoke on the mining links with Butte, Montana.

Paul Winter, Orgreave Truth and Justice campaign who spoke following the showing of the Yvette Vansons film “The Battle for Orgreave”.

Betty Cook (left) with Anne Scargill, both of the Women Against Pit Closures group Yorkshire, UK. Photo: John Jefferies

William Hammond of the Cork Mother Jones Committee introducing a musical act at the Firkin Crane centre. Photo: John Jefferies.

Dave Hopper (2nd from right) of the Durham Miner’s Gala with fellow members, along with friends from Co. Meath.

Anne Scargill and Betty Cook of Women Against Pit Closures (both in green) with their Mother Jones banner join with US women miners from West Virginia and the Mother Jones banner at the Firkin Crane. Photo (c) John Jefferies

Lord Mayor Mary Shields with three members of the Spirit of Mother Jones committee – James Nolan, Cllr. Ted Tynan and Michael Lally at the Lord Mayor’s chambers, City Hall.

Tadhg O’Sullivan of Allihies Copper Mining Museum who spoke of links between those mines and the mining area of Butte, Montana.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Mary Shields with James Goltz from Mount Olive, Illinois (burial place of Mother Jones). Photo (c) John Jefferies

Women from Yorkshire at Cork City Hall. L-R: Lynn, Betty Cook, Anne Scargill and Sue.

Filmmakers Lamprini C. Thoma (centre) and Nicos Ventouras from Greece meet Lord Mayor Mary Shields at City Hall.

Claire McGettrick speaking at the Firkin Crane yesterday

Luke Dineen

Gareth Peirce arriing at the Firkin Crane theatre, Cork yesterday

James P. McCarthy (left) with his wife Anne and Richard T. Cooke at the Maldron Hotel yesterday