Lile na Cásca
The Easter Lily is the beautiful conical-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life. For Christians it represents the spiritual essence of Easter.
In Ireland Lile na Cásca the Easter Lily is a commemorative symbol worn as a badge to honour the memory of the those who died during the 1916 Easter Rising or were executed afterwards for their involvement. It is the definitive Easter Rising commemorative symbol. It also honours the memory of those who died in Ireland’s war of independence consisting of members of the Irish Republican Army and Cumann ná m’Ban.
The Easter Lily was designed in 1925 by Cumann ná m’Ban. A year later, the Easter Lily Commemoration Committee was formed and existed until 1965. Originally the lily was hand-made. Proceeds from the nationwide sales of the Easter Lily went to the Irish Republican Prisoners’ Dependants Fund. Many sellers were vilified, arrested, attacked and jailed for selling this symbol commemorating the memory of the men and women of the Easter Rising.
The Easter Lily was traditionally sold on Easter Sunday outside church gates and was worn at the Easter and other Republican commemorations. In its early years a broad spectrum of republicans – from Sinn Féin to Fianna Fáil – wore the lily. It was sold by members of those parties as well as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Cumann na m’Ban, Fianna Éireann, and Conradh na Gaeilge.
Following the IRA murder of Richard More O’Ferrall 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”. Fianna Fáil then introduced a new Easter commemoration symbol called the Easter Torch. It was discontinued as it proved unpopular with the party grass roots who continued to wear the Easter Lily.
Cumann na m’Ban continues selling of the Easter Lily from their headquarters on 223 Parnell Street. Dublin. Both Official and Provisional Sinn Fein wore the Easter Lily in 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 Provo’s. In the 1990’s, metal versions of the Lily became popular and are worn for republican commemorations throughout the year.
This year at Easter I invite you to proudly wear the Easter Lily in memory of those great and gallant patriots who selflessly gave their lives that you might be free.
Wear an Easter Lilly
1
Just past the hour of noon under the springtime sun
Pearse stepping forward proclaimed Irelands destiny
On that fine Easter Monday with his gallant comrades
The tricolour flew on high claiming Ireland free
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s to honour all who died to make Ireland free.
2
The bravest and finest came to answered Irelands calling
Dublin has risen. Our tri-colour flying in the breeze
Proudly o’er the GPO and then began the fighting
And the call of the springtime is to make Ireland free
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s to honour all who died to make Ireland free.
3
The battle was raging. Soon Dublin was burning
The roar of the guns, men fighting fierce for liberty
Our heroes fought bravely Irelands freedom proclaiming
Ireland finest had risen for her right to be free
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s all to honour who died to make Ireland free.
4
The fighting was ended, our volunteers were marched away
To darkest Kilmainham, when all seemed to be lost
An eerie silent followed in what seemed like Irelands darkest day
Brave men had fought for Ireland regardless of the cost.
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s all to honour who died to make Ireland free.
5
Poets and dreamers they were sneered at with derision
England in fury then the leader’s one by one they shot
The tide now was turning they were heroes with great vision
Their martyrdom awakened the whole nation with a shock
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s all to honour who died to make Ireland free
6
The soul of our nation rising proudly from our heroes’ fate
On each Easter Monday their brave actions we recall
Their memory for ever we will proudly commemorate
The Tricolour flying for those who selflessly gave their all
Chorus
Proudly over my heart I will wear the Easter Lilly
Each Easter in memory of those who died for liberty
And if anybody’s asking me ‘Why am I wearing it?’
It’s to honour all who died to make Ireland free.
© Tomás O’Riain 2021
The Easter Lily Worldwide
History, mythology, literature, poetry and the world of art are alive with stories and images that eulogise the beauty and majesty of the elegant Easter Lily as it reaches from winters gloom into the springs warming Sun. It is a glorious expression of springtime and its awakening beauty and majestic portray the glory of life. Since the beginning of time, lilies have played significant roles in allegorical tales going all the way back to a tale reprinting the tears of Eve as she went forth from Paradise. The regal Easter lily is a fitting symbol of the greater meaning of Easter and resurrection. Gracing millions of homes and churches worldwide, the Easter Lily embodies joy, hope and life. The following poem by Louise Lewin Matthews captures the spiritual essence of the Easter Lily:
Easter morn with lilies fair
Fills the church with perfumes rare,
As their clouds of incense rise,
Sweetest offerings to the skies.
Stately lilies pure and white
Flooding darkness with their light,
Bloom and sorrow drifts away,
On this holy hallow’d day.
Easter Lilies bending low
in the golden afterglow,
Bear a message from the sod
To the heavenly towers of God.
Louise Lewin Matthews
Thoughts on the Easter Lily
The lily is rightly the flower of Easter. It lies buried in the ooze of pond or stream. There is nothing in the grave of the dead lily that appeals to nostril or eye. But silently the forces of life are working in the dark and the damp to prepare a glorious resurrection. A shaft of green shoots upward toward the sun. This is followed by a cluster of tiny buds. One day the sun smiles with special warmth upon the dank, black ooze, and there leaps into the light a creature of light and beauty; it is the lily, an angel of the earth, whose look is light.
Anon
