Mother Jones Festival
31 Jul 2012 - 02 Aug 2012
various
Tickets: €
Cork will finally commemorate the life and work of one of the most infamous women in history, who has largely been ignored in the city of her birth.Mary Harris was born in Cork 175 years ago in Shandon and was baptised in the North Cathedral. She immigrated to Canada in the early 1850s, and moved to America following the death of her husband, George Jones, and their four children, from yellow fever in 1867.
From the 1890s until her death in 1930, she became known as Mother Jones, one of the most famous and feared trade union leaders in America, often referred to as "the most dangerous woman in America” . She became a union organiser for the United Mine Workers Union of America and organised strikes in defence of miners for decent working conditions and pay.
The festival will see writers, film producers and many others contributing to public lectures and discussions on her life and times, as well as an exhibition and concerts.
“The Cork Mother Jones Commemoration Committee and the Shandon Street Festival invite all Cork people and visitors to the city to come and enjoy this festival to honour one of Cork’s most famous daughters and to ensure she will never again be forgotten in her native city,” commented one of the organisers.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Tuesday 31 July:
7:00pm. Official Irish premiere of Mother Jones, America’s Most Dangerous Woman. In attendance to present the film will be Rosemary Feurer, producer and director. This will take place at the Maldron Hotel in Shandon.
9:30pm. Music and songs to celebrate Mother Jones with the Cork Singers Club.
Wednesday 1 August
10:00am. Mass at the North Cathedral where Mary Harris was baptised, with Hugh Moynihan tenor and Norman O’Rourke bagpipes.
10:45. Guided Tour of the North Cathedral.
11:45. Talk on the history of the Shandon area.
12:15. Official opening of Mother Jones exhibition at the Firkin Crane Theatre. Refreshments.
13:00. Concert at the Firkin Crane Theatre, with the Cork Memory Lane Group and the Active Pulse Drama Group.
15:00 Inaugural Mother Jones lectures and discussion in the Firkin Crane Theatre with:
Professor Elliott Gorn, Professor of History at Brown University, Providence, RI.
Marat Moore, former US miner, novelist and labour union activist. .
18:37. The Shandon Bells ring out across Cork City to celebrate Mother Jones.
18:45. The Butter Exchange Band Mother Jones recital at the steps of Shandon.
19:30. Official unveiling of the Mother Jones plaque at John Redmond St., Shandon. (Sculptor: Mick Wilkins)
20:30. Concert, “Freedom Bells” with Andy Irvine at St. Anne’s Shandon. (Ticket event) (Booking http://www.tickets.ie)
21:30. Mother Jones music, song and dance at the Maldron Hotel featuring Hank Wedel, Two Time Polka and a host of musicians and dancers.
Thursday 2 August.
The Mother Jones daylong bus tour will take in Shandon, Cobh, and Inchigeelagh, all locations associated with Mary Harris. Departing 11:00 am from the Maldron Hotel.
Tickets at the Hotel reception from 1st July. All are welcome
For further details on the festival and to get involved, contact 086-3196063 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
More info on http://www.motherjones175.wordpress.com
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