Patrick Cannon honoured
Dublin republicans gathered last weekend to honour Patrick
Cannon, a young Volunteer from Edenmore, who died on active
service with his comrade Peter McElcar in Castlederg, County
Tyrone on 17 July 1976.
Over a hundred people marched to Balgriffin Cemetery led by a
republican colour party. In attendance at the graveside were
members of Patrick's family to whom Malachy Quinn of Dublin North
East Sinn Féin who chaired the ceremony, offered the continuing
sympathy and solidarity of republicans. Dublin North East
candidate Larry O'Toole spoke of the recent successful election
campaign in the constituency and paid tribute to all election
workers who had made such a valuable contribution.
The main speaker was Sean Crowe of Dublin South West Sinn Féin.
During the course of his speech he said:
``Unrelenting hard work and effort has been needed to change the
Irish political landscape as we have done. Much more work, just
as hard, just as unrelenting, lies ahead of us. Once more we have
entered a new phase of struggle. We do so with confidence, united
and strong.
``In 1976, the year Patrick Cannon died, the republican struggle
also lost hunger-striker Frank Stagg in an English prison. In his
last message to his comrades Frank said: ``Let my memorial be
peace with justice.''
``Let us leave this graveside today with renewed determination to
build that memorial for Patrick Cannon and for all who have given
their lives in the cause of freedom.''
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