Mother Jones and Her Children

The event features a screening of Mother Jones and Her Children, a documentary by Frameworks Films and the Cork Mother Jones Committee. It tells the story of Mary Harris, born in Shandon and baptized at the North Cathedral on August 1, 1837. After surviving the Great Famine, she emigrated to Canada, became a teacher, and later married union man George Jones. Following the tragic loss of her family to yellow fever in 1867 and her business in the 1871 Chicago fire, she became a prominent figure in the American Trade Union movement, earning the title “the most dangerous woman in America” for her advocacy for workers and opposition to child labour.
A plaque was erected in her honour in Shandon in 2012. The annual free festival celebrating her legacy takes place from July 24–27, 2025, in the Shandon Historic District, supported by the local community, trade unions, and Cork City Council. The Spirit of Mother Jones award is presented each year to notable activists. The event is centrally located in Cork, near the Opera House and Christy Ring Bridge. No booking is required, though group organizers are encouraged to get in touch. The 52-minute documentary will be followed by a Q&A session.
More information is available at www.motherjonescork.com and on Facebook.