Fr McVerry set to speak at Mother Jones Festival

One of Ireland’s best-known social campaigners and advocates for the poor is to appear at a Cork city festival to honour another champion of human rights.

Father Peter McVerry, whose passion for justice has made him a household name — the Father Peter McVerry Trust deals with thousands of homeless people throughout Dublin city — will attend The Spirit of Mother Jones Festival and Summer School at Shandon in July.

Fr McVerry will speak on the second day of the festival, which runs from Wednesday July 29 to Saturday, August 1.

His speech will focus on the topic: ‘Homelessness — a Failure of Social Policy.’

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Jim Nolan, spokesperson for the Cork Mother Jones Committee, said: “With the recent revelations that upwards of 30 people a month are losing their homes in Cork, and the courts full of repossession orders, Fr McVerry’s presence at Shandon is very timely.

“He has worked with the poor and homeless for almost 50 years and all associated with the Spirit of Mother Jones Festival are proud that he has accepted our invitation to speak at the summer school, as he epitomises the fight for social justice in a manner similar to Mary Harris herself. He has warned repeatedly of a tsunami of homelessness about to hit Ireland.

“Due to the lack of social housing and the rise of private rents, Fr McVerry has become even more outspoken in his warnings about the social consequences of homelessness.”

Now in its fourth year, the festival is organised by the Cork Mother Jones Committee, a group representing history, social justice, community, musical and trade union interests, who celebrate the life and achievements of Cork-born, Mary Harris.

www.motherjonescork.com

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