Easter Lily (badge)

The Easter Lily is a badge worn at Easter by Irish republicans as symbol of remembrance for Irish combatants who died during or were executed after the 1916 Easter Rising. Depending on the political affiliations of the bearer, it can also commemorate members of the pre-Treaty Irish Republican Army, the post-Treaty Irish Republican Army, and either the Provisional IRA or the Official IRA.

Introduction

The Easter Lily was introduced in 1926 by Cumann na mBan. Proceeds from the sale of the badge went to the Irish Republican Prisoners' Dependents Fund. Traditionally, they were sold outside church gates on Easter Sunday and worn at republican commemorations. In the early years of their existence, people from a broad political spectrum – from Fianna Fáil to Sinn Féin – wore lilies, which were sold by members of those political parties as well as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Fianna Éireann, and Conradh na Gaeilge. [An Phoblacht]

Fianna Fáil alternative fails

In the 1930s, relations between Fianna Fáil and the IRA deteriorated considerably. Following the murder by the IRA of Richard More O'Farrell in February 1935, the Fianna Fáil leadership instructed party members to stop selling the lily as it was "the symbol of an organisation of whose methods we disapprove". For its Easter commemmorations that same year, Fianna Fáil introduced a new symmbol called the Easter Torch. This was sold for a number of years but was discontinued as the badge proved unpopular with the party grassroots, many of whom continued to wear the Easter Lily. [An Phoblacht]

Attempts to prohibit sale

Since the 1930s, successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments attempted to suppress sales of the Easter Lily. [An Phoblacht]

"Stickies" versus "Pinheads"

After the 1969/70 IRA split, which led to the emergence of the Provisional IRA, the majority Official IRA produced a new type of Easter Lily with a self-adhesive backing. This led to the members of the Official IRA and Official Sinn Féin being referred to pejoratively as the "Stickies". On the other hand, the Provisionals retained the traditional paper and pin and became known as the "Pinheads", a nickname which has not lasted. [An Phoblacht]

Growth in Provisional IRA identification

Both the Officials and the Provisionals also saw the Easter Lily as a symbol of remembrance for their members who died on "active service". With the decline in the Official IRA, the Easter Lily became more and more associated with the Provisionals and the popularity of the lily declined during the 1970s. [Cumann na mBan]

In the 1990s, metal versions of the Lily became popular and are worn by some at any time of the year. Their sales and usage has increased with the rise in electoral support of Sinn Féin.

References

ources

* [http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/18577 An Phoblacht 5 April 2007]
* [http://www.triskelle.eu/history/cumannnamban.php?index=060.120.015 Cumann na mBan]

External links

* [http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/symbols/nationrepub.htm CAIN]
* [http://www.ucd.ie/archives/html/collections/humperys-sighle.htm Sighle Humphreys]