Ringaskiddy Protest in 1970s to Feature At 15th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival

Writes Leo McMahon

‘The Battle of Barnehely’ during the Raybestos Manhattan Asbestos Protest in Ringaskiddy in 1978 will be among the highlights of the 15^th Spirit of Mother Jones Festival taking place in Shandon, Cork City from July 23^rd to 25^th.

The unique festival celebrates the life of Mary Harris who was baptised in the North Cathedral on August 1^st, 1837, emigrated from Cork around the Great Famine period and went on to become known as union activist Mother Jones in the USA. It’s also dedicated to inspirational people everywhere striving for social justice.

‘Today Mother Jones is remembered in many parts of the world, and especially in Cork and the USA for her fight for social and labour justice and for her efforts to abolish child labour. She organised the March of the Mill Children in 1903, an event which proved to be seminal in the long campaign to remove young children from working in the mines and mills of America and ensure they went to school,’ said committee member Ger O’Mahony.

‘The scourge of many employers, she was named Mother Jones by the miners as a mark of respect for her efforts to improve their pay and work conditions over many decades. Her slogan of ‘Pray for the Dead and Fight like Hell for the Living’ still resounds in campaigns and strikes around the world. She died aged 93 in November 1930.’

Everyone is welcome to the festival featuring lectures, films, discussions, music, singing, dancing, a walk and much more said Ger. All events, which mostly take place in the Maldron Hotel or Dance Cork Firkin Crane, are free and no booking is required. It will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork at 1.15pm on Thursday, July 23^rd.

Ringaskiddy discussion

There will be a discussion at 11am in the Maldron Hotel on Saturday, July 25^th about the local and national impact of the operation of the Raybestos Manhattan factory (1975-1980). The dumping of asbestos from the factory at Ovens in Ringaskiddy in 1978, led to widespread community opposition from people across the Cork Harbour area. The infamous ‘Battle of Barnahely’ in May 1978 created huge community anger and resistance. For the first time, local speakers including Gertie O’Driscoll, Tom MacSweeney, Derry Chambers and John Twomey will remember and discuss these events of some 50 years ago and their impact at the time.

Later that day at 5pm, ex workers from the Vita Cortex, Cork factory struggle and supporters will tell their story of being made redundant without pay in 2011. 

Historian Anne Twomey will explore the remarkable story of the five Cummins sisters of Cork, Geraldine, Mary, Iris, Jane and Phyllis. Daughters of William Edward Cummins, Professor of Medicine at University College Cork and Jane Constable Hall, they were born between 1890 and 1907 and achieved hugely in their chosen careers.

Protestors trying to stop a truck delivering asbestos waste from Raybestos Manhattan Ovens to a dump at Barnahely, Ringaskiddy in May 1978 - pic from RTE Archiives

Committee member James Nolan said special tributes will be paid to two Cork people who attended many of the festivals: Joan Goggin (Mother Jones) and Cork piper Norman O'Rourke, both of whom passed away during the year. Another special event is the presentation of the Spirit of Mother Jones Award to a social/workers/human rights activist.

Speakers over the three days include President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation leader Phil ni Sheaghdha and former Greenpeace activist and MEP Grace O’Sullivan. Others are prominent American trade union leader Sara Nelson (by zoom), former SIPTU President and MEP Des Geraghty, Cuban Ambassador to Ireland HE Bernardo Guanche Hernandez, John Donoghue, Loyola University, Chicago; political activist and Gaza flotilla member in 2025 Tadhg Hickey, Prof Naomi Masheti of Cork Migrant Centre and Gemma Kloppe Santamaria, UCC.

The festival programme features documentaries/films about Mother Jones, Gaza and the annual Durham Miners’ Gala while Peter Foynes will lead a heritage stroll in Shandon’s Historic Quarter. There will be musical performances by Cork Singers Club, Kalyna Ukrainian Community Choir, Club Ceoil Ballad Group, Ballyphehane, Martin Leahy, John Nyhan, David King and friends. Cobh Animation Group will also be attending.

For the full programme, visit www.motherjonescork.com