Republican Sinn Féin unveil plaque in memory of Derry's Seán Keenan
The plaque was revealed on Easter Monday at the Hunger Striker memorial and remembrance garden in Bundoran
Republican Sinn Féin have unveiled a plaque in memory of its founder member Seán Keenan from Derry.
The plaque was revealed on Easter Monday at the Hunger Striker memorial and remembrance garden in Bundoran.
Seán Keenan was the chairman of the Derry Citizens Defence Association between July and October 1969, and played a prominent role in the events surrounding the creation and defence of Free Derry.
In the late 1980s, he was made honorary Vice-President for life of Republican Sinn Féin until his death in March 1993.
During Monday’s ceremony in Co Donegal, Seán’s daughter Nora unveiled the plaque with her husband Cyril.
Mickey McGonigle, Honorary Vice-President of Sinn Féin, who organised the event, paid tribute to the late Mr Keenan.
Addressing those in attendance, Mr McGonigle described Seán Keenan as a ‘principle republican who never accepted Leinster House, Stormont or Westminster’.
“He would never accept the King or Queen’s handshake the way some of his former comrades did,” said Mr McGonigle.
“Since I was a young boy to the present day, I haven’t found another republican in Derry who could take Seán Keenan’s place - he was a true hardline republican, like myself.”
Mickey finished proceedings by singing Amhrán na bhFiann.