15th Mother Jones Festival taking shape

There’s a buzz of excitement up in Shandon this week with the announcement of details for the 2026 Spirit of Mother Jones Festival.

Announced by the Cork Mother Jones Committee, the 15th outing for the festival will be held in and around the Shandon Historic Quarter over three days and nights from 23-25 July next year.

The festival celebrates the life of Cork-born activist Mother Jones and supports the causes she fought for as the 100th anniversary of her death in 1930 approaches. A founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World union, she emigrated to the US as a child where she grew up to become a fearless advocate for the rights of the working class.

James Nolan, spokesperson for the festival, said: “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 workers’ rights and social justice across the world.”

Organised by a voluntary committee, the festival is open and free to all and attracts large numbers of visitors to the Shandon area every year.

Mr Nolan said: “We were overjoyed that US Senator Bernie Sanders came to Shandon in May to visit the community and wished to walk the streets in the footsteps of Mary Harris.”

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