A TRADITION which is more than 70 years old continued this week as Taoiseach Micheál Martin presented US President Donald Trump with a bowl of live shamrock to mark St Partick’s Day.
Mr Martin presented the shamrock in an Irish-made crystal bowl to the President yesterday following a bilateral meeting at the White House.
During the ceremony he highlighted the importance of the Irish-US relationship, stating “the time-honoured tradition of the shamrock bowl ceremony is an important moment to reflect upon the relationship between our two countries”.
“Mr President, as you said on an earlier St. Patrick’s Day: “through trial and triumph, ups and downs, thick and thin, the extraordinary Irish people have stood by America’s side, and America will always stand by theirs”,’ he added.
“Our peoples have stood side by side for a long time,” he explained.
“Next year, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin presents US President Donald Trump with a bowl of shamrock during a St. Patrick’s Day event in the East Room of the White House on March 12“Of the fifty-six signatories of that historic document, three were born on the island of Ireland and many others were of Irish descent.
“Since then, Irish-America has been at the heart of shaping this great nation.
“The ideals of liberty, democracy, and equality of opportunity forged in this country did much to inspire Irish independence.
"Our histories are interconnected because our people are interconnected.”
Mr Martin went on to acknowledge the “more than 30 million people” who currently claim Irish ancestry in the United States.
“Those who came to America, seeking refuge from poverty and hunger at home, worked hard,” he said.
“They helped build the railroads that connected this country, and the skylines that defined it.
“Others served their communities and their adopted home as firefighters, teachers, nurses, doctors, policemen, and soldiers.
“Irish people can now be found in almost every industry and community across the United States.
“Mr President, Irish Americans have lived the American dream,” he added.
The shamrock bowl tradition dates back to 1953The shamrock bowl tradition dates back to 1953, when Ambassador John Joseph Hearne, who was Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States from 1950-1960, first presented a bowl of shamrock to US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Since then, the ceremony has continued annually through successive administrations.
“Typically, the shamrock has been presented in an Irish-crafted bowl, which serves as a testament to Ireland’s ongoing tradition of craftsmanship, skill and attention to detail,” a spokesperson for the Taoiseach’s office said.
“Shamrock has previously been presented in a silver bowl, with both options embodying Ireland's commitment to excellence in design and artistry,” they added.
The first Taoiseach to present the shamrock was John A. Costello in 1956.
For this year’s ceremony, the shamrock was provided by Living Shamrock, a company based in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry, while the crystal bowl was created by the House of Waterford, which is part of the Fiskars Group, known for its fine Irish crystal production.
