Bernie and Jane Sanders attend plaque unveiling in Co Kildare
US SENATOR BERNIE Sanders has accompanied his wife Jane to a Co Kildare town where she traces her roots for the unveiling of plaque commemorating an anti-war song.
Dr Jane O'Meara Sanders, an activist and political strategist, has ancestral links to Athy.
The couple were special guests at St Michael's Cemetery in the town for the unveiling of the plaque dedicated to the 19th century anti-war folk song 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye'.
The song tells the story of a woman who, on the road to Athy, meets a former lover who has returned from war badly injured.
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The plaque is part of the Made Of Athy Project, a local initiative that recognises people with links to the town who have made significant contributions to world culture.
Mr and Mrs Sanders attended the event during their short visit to Ireland.
On Saturday evening, the 83-year-old US senator
urged working people in Ireland and across the world to unite to stop the rise of oligarchy
as he delivered a keynote speech in Dublin.
He used an address at the Robert Tressell Festival at Liberty Hall to criticise what he characterised as a new generation of billionaires who do not believe in government or democracy.
Mr Sanders also expressed concern that artificial intelligence and new technology were being used against working people, to take their jobs, rather than being harnessed to benefit workers and generate wealth across society.

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Irish Post
02-06-2025
- Irish Post
'Peace, not war' - Bernie Sanders tells Cork on Irish visit
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Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Bernie Sanders visits Cork butcher shop to honour legacy of Mother Jones
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Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
US senator Bernie Sanders visits Cork butcher's shop to pay tribute to trade union activist Mother Jones
It was the first time in a long political career that US senator Bernie Sanders held an event at a butcher's shop as he retraced the footsteps of activist Mother Jones across Cork City. The 83-year-old Vermont native visited Nolan's Butchers on Shandon Street in Cork City on Tuesday afternoon to pay tribute to the Cork-born trade unionist once labelled 'the most dangerous woman in America'. US senator Bernie Sanders with Ann Piggott and Ger O'Mahony of the Mother Jones Committee at Nolan's Butchers on Shandon Street prior to visiting the Mother Jones plaque on John Redmond Street, Cork. Pictures: Dan Linehan Nolan's Butchers is run by James Nolan and his wife, Marie. It has remained as the headquarters of the Cork Mother Jones Committee for the past 14 years. In a little back room, filled with potatoes and vegetables, the posters and brochures for the committee are held. 'Hi, how are you?' the former US presidential candidate said as he entered Nolan's. 'Do you want me to sell something?' Mr Sanders added. 'We have a very good sale today," he said to the group of about 30 people in the shop. 'Ye can all queue up one by one,' Marie chimed. 'It's cash only now.' Mr Sanders and his wife Jane O'Meara Sanders were welcomed with a round of applause to the shop, and were presented with a bottle of Tanora, a slab of Chester cake, and some Tayto crisps. During the presentation, he was given the history of Mother Jones, as well as a briefing on the work of the committee on Shandon Street. Bernie Sanders, his wife Jane, Ann Piggott and Ger O'Mahony and the Mother Jones committee at the Mother Jones plaque on John Redmond Street, Cork. Mr Sanders added he was not aware Mother Jones had immigrated to the town of Burlington, where he had previously been the mayor. 'I've been to many openings and events, and let me tell you this, first time ever me and Jane have ever been to a butcher's shop,' he said. 'Thank you, Cork.' Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane under the Mother Jones plaque with Garda Michelle McNamara, Sgt JP Twomey, Garda Tony Gardiner and Sgt David Fleming. Picture Dan Linehan Mr Nolan said it was 'brilliant and a privilege' for Mr Sanders to visit his shop. The butchers have been open for almost 80 years. 'He's an amazing man and he's been around for so long as well and still as good as he was 50, 60 years ago, I suppose,' Mr Nolan told the Irish Examiner. 'It's just an honour to have him here, really. It is brilliant to have him,' he added. Both Mr Sanders and his wife spent 20 minutes in the shop before making their way down to John Redmond Street to honour the plaque dedicated to Mother Jones with some speeches, a song and a shot of whiskey.