Patrick Leo Burdock

In November 1920, Burdock joined the Dublin Brigade of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and was a private in the C. Company III Battalion. He was described as "very efficient volunteer … always ready for action", patrolling the south inner city. He was involved in ambushes of Black and Tan lorries at a number of locations in April and May 1920, with an exchange of gunfire.^[1][2][3] Burdock fought in the Irish Civil War on the anti-treaty side, and was part of two attacks on the intelligence department of the Free State Army at Oriel House, Westland Row in September 1922. He was later arrested and spent a short time at Mountjoy Prison. He remained an active member of the republican movement after the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. Due to his involvement with the transport workers strike against the Dublin United Tramway Company in March 1935, he was imprisoned at Curragh military prison for 6 months. Two of his brothers, James and Joseph, were arrested for possession of arms and ammunition in 1934 and 1941 respectively.^[1]

Burdock was released from prison, and met Annie Doyle from Griffith Terrace, in The Liberties. They married on 13 September 1937 at St Catherine's church, Meath Street. The couple moved to Griffith Terrace, where Burdock lived for the rest of his life. He was awarded a military pension in 1946, which helped the family through the shop closures and financial instability of the 1940s. The couple had one child, Brian.^[1]

Despite increased competition from the 1950s onwards from other "chippers", the shop at Werburgh Street continued successfully. His mother died in 1954 from cancer, and Burdock continued to run the family shop until his death from cancer on 23 September 1966. He was buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery with full military honours from the "old IRA".^[1]