O’Reilly, Stephen. Spirit Flowers. Poems and Essays by Stephen O’Reilly. Who in company with his gallant brother fell valiantly fighting for Irish Freedom on that great day of hero-deeds when Ireland’s Army smote by Liffey’s side The Custom House of Britain. With a Foreword by Brian O Huiginn, dated 1922. [First Edition]. Dublin, The Gael Co-Op. Society, Ltd., 1923. 18 x 12 cm. 40 pages. Original green cloth. Hard cover. Gilt title on spine. Blind line decorations. Very good condition. Minor shelf wear and a few small stains on front board. Internally clean. Scarce.

On May 25th, 1921, the last major action by the May 25, 1921 saw one of the greatest attacks by Republicans on the British administration in Ireland when some three hundred volunteers attacked the Custom House in Dublin, burning it and its contents to the ground, seriously hampering the Administration’s ability to run the affairs of State, especially revenue collection.

While the attack was a success, nine men lost their lives in it – five republicans and four civilians, including the caretaker of the building. Tragically, among the dead were two brothers – Stephen O’Reilly, just 19 years of age and his older brother Patrick, 26.

The following year fellow Republican, poet, writer and publisher Brian O’Higgins published a collection of some 40 poems by Stephen under the title “Spirit Flowers”. That book has been out of print for almost 100 years. A collection of O’Reilly’s works was published again by Kilmainham Tales Publications.

Stephen O’Reilly was an excellent poet, an emerging talent recognised as one of the best of his time. He had yet to fully blossom, however, and one can only wonder what he would have produced had he survived. But Stephen, to quote from one of his poems, “could not stay behind” while Ireland called. Instead, he willingly and unselfishly sacrificed a glorious future in a hail of Auxiliary bullets for our freedom, our future. (copied from ‘Kilmainham Tales Web Site).

• Keywords: History · History & Culture · History of Ireland · Irish Literature · Literature · Modern Literature
• Language: English
• First edition
• Inventory Number: 103952AB

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