24 July 1997 Edition
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.''
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.''