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 theMaldron” 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.
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.
The Cork Mother Jones Committee will screen the stunning environmental film “A PlasticOcean” at the sixth Spirit of Mother Jones festival on Thursday afternoon 3rd 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 3rd 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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
Ladies in appropriate period dress with members of Cork Shawlies at the Mother Jones Garden party at Cork Butter Market. Photo: John Jefferies.
Anne Scargill from Women Against Pit Closures, Yorkshire with Trevor Quinn, SIPTU and Cork Mother Jones Committee. Photo (c) John Jefferies
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.
Anne Scargill and Betty Cooke at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival in Cork, 2014.
Claire McGettrick speaking at the Firkin Crane yesterday
Luke Dineen during his talk about the Cork Harbour Soviet during The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 2014
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
Cllr Ted Tynan and Jim Goltz from Mount Olive, Illinois
Women from Yorkshire at Cork City Hall. L-R: Lynn, Betty Cook, Anne Scargill and Sue.
Filmmakers Lamprini C. Thoma and Nicos Ventouras from Greece at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.
Members of the committee of Cork Mother Jones Festival and guests with Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Mary Shields
Cork’s Lord Mayor, Cllr. Mary Shields with some members of the Cork Mother Jones Commitee at City Hall this morning (L-R): James Nolan, Cllr. Ted Tynan, the Lord Mayor, Michael Lally.
Flowers around the Mother Jones plaque, John Redmond Street, Shandon, Cork City.
The third annual Spirit of Mother Jones opens tonight, heralding the start of a four-day festival of film, debate, music and more in the historic Shandon area on Cork City’s Northside. The festival is the culmination of months of preparation and effort and puts in place an event which has now become established as one of Cork’s most unique festivals, recalling the life and legacy of Mary Harris / Mother Jones, Cork’s rebel daugthter, America’s venerable campaigner.
Today’s events, under the heading “The Gathering”, are as follows:-
Tuesday, 29th July 2014
5.00pm – Official Festival opening at the Maldron Hotel
6.00pm – “Mother Jones, America’s Most Dangerous Woman”– a film by Rosemary Feurer (at the Firkin Crane).
7.30pm – The Cork Mother Jones 2014 Lecture with Professor James Greene of the University of Massachusetts, Boston and author of Death in the Haymarket and the West Virginia Mine Wars.
9.30pm – Cork Singer’s Club perform at the Maldron Hotel.
Mother Jones display in window of Nolan’s butcher shop, Shandon Street.
Cork Tourist Office on Grand Parade with Mother Jones window display (Pic: A. Mahony)
Si Kahn visits historic Shandon. (L-R): Jim Nolan, Si Kahn, Ger O’Mahony and Elizabeth Minnich (more details click pic). Photo: Martin Duggan
Flowers around the Mother Jones plaque, John Redmond Street, Shandon, Cork City.
Flower baskets at Shandon
Flowers in an old milk churn at Cork’s historic Butter Market, Shandon.
A few days ago we reported that volunteers were busy preparing the Shandon area of Cork for the Spirit of Mother Jones festival which starts next Tuesday, 29th July. Today we have some photos to show the results of that work. Our sincere thanks once again to Shandon Area Resident’s association, local business premises, Cork City Council and local volunteers.
Cork Tourist Office on Grand Parade with Mother Jones window display (Pic: A. Mahony)
A “Spirit of Mother Jones” window display is the highlight of Cork’s main tourist office on the city’s Grand parade this week. The display highlights the life and work of Mother Jones, her Cork birthplace and promotes the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival which begins in the historic Shandon district next week on Tuesday, 29th July. In addition to the Tourist Office display in the city centre, the Shandon area is en fete currently with colourful bunting and is awash with flowers with hanging baskets and floral displays while a number of local business premises also feature Mother Jones posters. Our sincere thanks to the Shandon Area Resident’s Assocation, Fáilte Ireland, the staff of the Cork Tourist office and especially to Mother Jones committee members James Nolan for his work with the Shandon displays and Ailbhe Mahony who put together the tourist office display. The festival also features prominently on Cork City Council’s website and in local media.
Cork, and Shandon in particular, can take a bow. Mother Jones would be impressed.
The Mother Jones Gala Concertwill once again be one of the highlights of the music programme of the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and will take place at the Firkin Crane theatre in Cork’s historic Shandon area on Wednesday, 30th July 2014, beginning at 9.00pm after a full day of film, lectures and debate. Once again the inimitable Richard T.Cooke will be the MC for the concert and we can expect a few songs and plenty of banter from Richard who is one of the “unsung” heroes of the festival. The full line-out for the gala concert is as follows:
Richard T. Cooke, singer, song-writer, historian and raconteur
Richard T. Cooke, troubadour, radio pressenter, etc, etc. The Cork Rokk Choir will serenade us with songs from the Mother Jones era. Kieran McCarthy, Tenor, will perform contemporary songs accompanied by the Cork Rokk Choir. The Cork Shakespearing Company, who are currently celebrating 90 years of Hollywood stage productions, will perform a Mother Jones monologue. Aoife Delaney, Actor / Singer – will perform a young Mary Harris (Mother Jones). Muddy Lee and the Cork Shawlies – will perform their No.1 Cork song entitled “Up the Coal Quay”. To finish off an exciting evening of music and performance the Mother Jones Ceili Band will give a concert at the nearby Maldron Hotel, commencing at 10.30pm. Our thanks to Richard T. Cooke, William Hammond and all concerned.
The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival 