What annexation are you talking about? As far as I can tell, Catalonia lost it's independence with the Nueva Planta decrees in 1716 [0], which is far from "within living memory".
Just because it happened a few hundred years ago, doesnt mean they lost their own heritage, their language, and their self-determination.
Look no further than Ireland. That battle goes back to Grace O'Malley and Elizabeth in the 16th'c. In reality, it went further back, to this structure called the Hadrian Wall, but that's in 1st c.
"Living memory" indeed.