By now the families of Patrick Cannon, farmer, of Drimkeelan, Mountcharles, County Donegal, and his brother Connell Cannon, cattle-dealer, of Donegal town, were starting to grow up, and newspaper reports contain occasional references to the presence of the new generation of Cannon females at various local events, chaperoned of course by their parents.

The Derry Journal of 11 February 1884 records a ball and entertainment ‘of a very respectable and agreeable character’ as having taken place in the Neuala National School, Donegal, festooned with holly and ivy for the occasion. A couple of hundred people attended; among those listed are Mrs and the Misses Cannon and Connell.

The same publication of Monday 27th July 1885 records Mr P. Cannon and Mrs Cannon of Drumkeelan as having attended Mountcharles Regatta the previous Thursday with Miss K Cannon, of Donegal – perhaps one of Connell’s daughters visiting! According to the Journal, the day’s amusement was the most successful that people of the neighbourhood had had the opportunity of witnessing for ‘long and many a day.’

On 2 December 1885, the Derry Journal records a reception held at Mountcharles, Donegal, to celebrate the return from their honeymoon of a young local couple, Mr and Mrs Patrick D Walsh. Every window pane in the town was illuminated with lighted candles, and torches and tar barrels lit along the street. Some of the candles were inscribed with the words ‘Long live the happy couple’ and ‘Welcome Home.’ A supper for the wedding party in Mulreany’s Hotel was attended by Mr P Cannon and the Misses Cannon, Drumkeelan, Mountcharles. Presumably the purpose of the Misses Cannon attending these events was that they too, would marry suitably!