Musical highlights of the Mother Jones Festival in Cork
Joan Goggin in character as Mother Jones at a previous festival. Picture: David Creedon
The annual Spirit of Mother Jones Festival runs from July 23-25 in the Shandon area of Cork City. The festival is dedicated to the memory of the Cork-born woman who battled immense personal tragedy, and became a prominent union organiser in America, battling for workers’ rights and seeking to outlaw child labour.
As well as talks and discussions, the festival also has a music strand. Here are some of the highlights:
The choir comprises women and men who are now living in Cork following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing attacks on their country. They perform traditional songs from Ukraine, as well as renderings of the Irish national anthem Amhrán Na bhFiann and modern favourite You Raise Me Up.
Established in 1993, the Cork Singers’ Club has featured in every Mother Jones festival since the opening night on July 31, 2012. Eagerly awaited each year, the Cork Singers’ Club will present an evening of songs. It has ensured the tradition of singing remains alive in Cork — no instruments are allowed. Club members also gather each Sunday night at An Spailpín Fánach to hone their remarkable art. Under fear an tí Jim Walsh, the Cork Singers’ Club represents the unique singing heritage of the people of Cork. Given the context of the festival, they’ll be singing songs of trade unions, working class people and social justice.
This group, led by Stephen O’Dea and Abbie Ní Loingsigh, began playing together in 2015 and have featured at many events in the Ballyphehane area and throughout the city. Club Ceoil Ballyphehane is a non-profit community organisation, voluntary run traditional music and set-dancing group open to all at affordable prices. The ballad group is made up of singers and an array of musicians playing guitar, banjo, bodhrán, fiddle, and tin whistle. Club Ceoil also runs classes on a Monday night in Coláiste Éamann Rís and on a Tuesday evening in Presentation Secondary School, Ballyphehane.
John Nyhan is another versatile musician and singer who has been associated with the festival since its beginning. Immersed in the folk revival, as well as such genres as country music and bluegrass, he includes such classics as and in his repertoire. This year’s theme is ‘Songs of Struggle, Songs of Hope’ and John will introduce a relatively new Cork-based band led by American exile David King, featuring Ed Lahiff and Adrian Kane.
The Cork singer hit national and international news outlets for his homelessness song performed outside the Dáil every Thursday for two years. He has also written a song about Mother Jones, which was first performed at last year’s festival.
