Easter lilies, a traditional symbol of the 1916 Rising, may be worn by
Orange marchers during their rally in Dublin next month.
The lilies, which will be dyed orange for the occasion, will be needed
because the orange lily, normally worn on 12 July marches, will not be in
bloom until the summer.
"We're thinking of getting Easter lilies and spraying them orange for the
day," said Willie Frazer, one of the organisers of the march.
Frazer, from Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), also said that
the organisers would like a "decent, law-abiding TD" to play a central role
in the demonstration outside Leinster House on 25 February, as a gesture to
people in the Republic.
"We want to show we're not anti-Catholic, we're anti-terrorist," he told
the Sunday Tribune. "We would love a TD to come forward and offer to chair
the event. We don't know who to ask but anyone sympathetic should contact
us.
"We wouldn't want any Sinn Féin politician though. There would be no point
in Gerry Adams offering. We only want someone well-respected." Speakers will
include DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson, and Ulster Unionist Danny Kennedy.
Frazer said Donaldson had invited Michael McDowell to attend. "I wanted to
ask McDowell to speak at the rally, but some people felt that might be used
against him by his political opponents, so we're now just asking him to come
along on the day and talk to some victims.
"If he himself feels he could address the rally, that would be wonderful,
but we will leave it up to him to offer because we don't want to embarrass
him."
Frazer said the route still had to be decided. Two options under
consideration involve the parade leaving from O'Connell Street or Dawson
Street. He dismissed claims that neo-Nazi groups like Combat 18 would take
part: "There'll be no clowns like that on the march. It will be decent,
well-behaved folk only."
Union jacks and Ulster flags would be displayed, but the tricolour could
also be carried, he said. "We mightn't like the tricolour when we're in
Northern Ireland, but it's the flag of the Irish state and when we're in the
Irish state, we'll respect it."
Jeffrey Donaldson said he was awaiting Michael McDowell's response to his
invitation. "We are marching in Dublin to highlight the plight of IRA
victims, not to offend anyone. We hope the event will pass peacefully
without trouble from republicans or anyone else," he added.
