Nelson Mandela’s passing marked at candlelight vigil in Derry City

THE PASSING of Nelson Mandela was marked in Derry on Friday night with a candlelight vigil at the H-Block Monument on Rossville Street. The event was attended by dozens of people of all ages.

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson chaired the event and local republican ex-prisoner Ritchie Harkin sang a song dedicated to Nelson Mandela.

The main speaker was former Hunger Striker and Sinn Féin Foyle Assembly member Raymond McCartney, who spoke about the links between Ireland, Nelson Mandela and the ANC. He read out extracts from The Long Walk to Freedom, the autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela which looked at his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison.

Paul Kavanagh raised the South African flag and there was minute’s silence.

The event concluded with Mickey Kelly and Dannika Breslin singing Labi Siffre’s anti-apartheid anthem Something Inside So Strong.