Spirit of Mother Jones Festival Cork

19/08/2026

Former President of the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), Des Geraghty spoke to the topic of "An Injury to One is the Concern of All" at the recent festival.

This slogan which originated in the 1870s with the Knights of Labor in the United States and was later popularised by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) has become a major rally call of the trade union movement worldwide.

Mother Jones would have been familiar with that call in her time.

Des is also a fine singer and musician with the Clé Club in Dublin, and joined in with the Cork Singers Club, during the Festival. Many thanks for your contribution to the Festival, Des.


SIPTU
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Irish Labour History Society
Clé Club
Cork singers club
Cork Folk Festival
Nolan's Butcher Shandon Street Cork City
United Mine Workers of America
Karan Casey
Martin Leahy Music

18/08/2026

The Remarkable Cummins Sisters from Cork.

Our thanks to historian, Anne Twomey for her inspiring account of the Cummins sisters and their incredible achievements at a time in Ireland when it was extremely difficult for women to make progress. Their ground breaking achievements in education and sport were a testament to their determination and ability to overcome the barriers to advancement. As a result of Anne's work and her talk before a packed house at the Dance Cork Firkin Crane during the Festival; we hope that the Cummins sisters will no longer remain hidden from view and their achievements will be fully acknowledged.

Pictured: Ann Rea of the Cork Mother Jones Committee and Anne Twomey.

Photo: Emma.


Pure Cork
Shandon Area History Group
Shandon Bells & Tower
University College Cork
Cork City Council
St Anne's Church Shandon - An Inclusive Church

18/08/2026

17/08/2026

Naomi Masheti of the Cork Migrants Centre spoke of "Activism through Storytelling: Raising the Voices of Migrants" at the recent Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. Naomi gave a very enlightening and relevant presentation in relation as to how migrants should be listened to. Pictured with Ed Lahiff of the Cork Mother Jones Committee, who chaired the discussion.


Nolan's Butcher Shandon Street Cork City
Cork Migrant Centre
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
SIPTU
IrishCentral.com
Irish Refugee Council Employment Support Group
Irish Refugee Council
Irish Foreign Ministry
Cork City Council
University College Cork

16/08/2026

Pictured: Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, Bernardo Guanche Hernandez with Ann Piggott of the Cork Mother Jones Committee, who spoke about life in Cuba at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.

Photo: Emma.


Irish Congress of Trade Unions
SIPTU
Cork City Council
Cork's 96FM

11/08/2026

Cork Heritage Day next Saturday 15th August .

There will be a special showing of the documentary, Mother Jones and her Children on next Saturday morning commencing at 11:00 am at the Shandon Maldron Hotel.

All are welcome. There is no charge and there will be time for a chat afterwards.

This Cork made documentary contains footage of Mother Jones speaking in 1930 shortly before her death. It also contains interviews in Ireland and the USA and a visit to her graveside in Mt. Olive Illinois.

It is indeed fitting that this takes place at the former North Infirmary Hospital, a very historic building in its own right which may well have been visited by a young Mary Harris while she lived in the area during Famine times.


Cork City Council
Maldron Hotel Shandon Cork City
Cork's 96FM
Nolan's Butcher Shandon Street Cork City
Cork Heritage Open Day
Shandon Image news
Shandon Bells & Tower
Damian Boylan
Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald
Dr John Sheehan
Cllr. John Maher
Cllr Michelle Gould
Cllr. Brian McCarthy
Shandon Area History Group
Cork Community Media Hub

08/08/2026

Martin Leahy, sings Stop the Game at the Gaza protest, march today on the Grand Parade.

The Campaign to Stop the Game refers to two upcoming Nations League matches against Israel on the 27th September and the 4th October 2026.

In spite of the protests, the Football Association of Ireland continues to support the playing of these games in Hungary and Serbia respectively.

"Don't play, don't play, don't play."


Martin Leahy Music
Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign
SIPTU
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
IrishCentral.com

08/08/2026

David King and Friends played and sang at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival recently. Here, they are also joined by the legendary Johnny Nyhan. Thanks to all you all, it was a brilliant night of music, song and craic at the Maldron Hotel.


Nolan's Butcher Shandon Street Cork City
Shandon Area History Group
Maldron Hotel Shandon Cork City

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the Club Ceoil Ballyphehane Ballad Group for their wonderful performance at the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival. They certainly rocked Cork's Northside with their lunchtime performance during the Festival.

Well done to everyone.


Club Ceoil Ballyphehane
Cork singers club
Martin Leahy Music
EchoLive.ie

03/08/2026

Tadhg Hickey being introduced by Ed Lahiff of the Cork Mother Jones Committee at the recent Festival.