Volunteer Patrick Cannon remembered

» Mark Moloney

Pat was a young man who would not let distance deter him from participating in the struggle for Irish freedom.

IRA Volunteer Patrick Cannon was remembered in his native Dublin last Thursday with a memorial talk in the Sinn Féin Bookshop. Dozens of republican activists attended to hear as the life of the young Volunteer was recalled by comrades, friends and relatives.

Originally from the Edenmore estate in Raheny, north Dublin City, Patrick was acutely aware of the struggle taking place in the Six Counties and could not stand idly by as the nationalist population faced a combined onslaught from unionist and British forces. Pat travelled hundreds of miles to join the struggle for Irish independence and became active with Óglaigh na hÉireann in the west Tyrone area.

On 17 July 1976, an explosive device which he and Donegal Volunteer Peter McElchar were transporting exploded prematurely as they travelled towards Castlederg. Pat was 20 years of age while Peter was just 19.

Every year republicans in Dublin gather to pay tribute to Pat Cannon, a young man who would not let distance deter him from participating in the struggle for Irish freedom.

This year's commemoration will take place on Saturday 13 July, meeting at 2pm at Northern Cross (Hilton car park on Malahide Road) and parade to Balgriffin Cemetery where Pat's comrade Cllr Noel Harrington will speak.

A second event on the night also saw local historian Pádraig MacFionnlaig speak on the Howth gun-running of 1914 and its significance to the Irish republican cause.

• Republicans attend the Pat Cannon memorial event at the Sinn Féin Bookshop in Dublin