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Newry and Armagh MLA Aoife Finnegan launched the party's Easter Lily campaign in Cullyhanna last Saturday 29 March, with over 100 women coming together to mark the occasion.
The event was held to mark 100 years of the Easter Lily and 110 years since the 1916 Easter Rising, with women from across South Armagh and beyond in attendance.
Finnegan said: "The Easter lily has long been worn as a symbol of respect for those who gave their lives in the 1916 rising and in the years that followed in pursuit of Irish freedom. It is a simple symbol but one that speaks to sacrifice, courage and a belief in Ireland's future."
The MLA also paid tribute to the women of Cumann na mBan, who she credited with inventing the Easter Lily. "Those women stood at the heart of the Rising and the struggle that followed," she said, naming Constance Markievicz, Winifred Carney, Kathleen Lynn and Margaret Skinnider among those who made central contributions. "They did not stand on the sidelines; they led, organised and fought. Their contribution was central, and it must always be recognised."
Finnegan reflected on the legacy of 1916 and its relevance today. "As we mark these anniversaries, we think of the generation of 1916 and their vision for a free, fair and united Ireland. That work did not end then, and today we have another generation of strong, capable women who carry on in the republican tradition, so, today and in the days to come, wear your Easter lily with pride."
