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Home Page > Entertainment > The 60 year history of sharing a bowl of Shamrocks with the US President for St. Patrick’s Day - PHOTOS & VIDEO

The 60 year history of sharing a bowl of Shamrocks with the US President for St. Patrick’s Day - PHOTOS & VIDEO

The US Embassy in Dublin have created a short video on the history of the Shamrock ceremony at the White House in honour of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day

AMANDA DRISCOLL,

IrishCentral Intern

Published Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 7:25 AM

Updated Tuesday, March 19, 2013, 9:16 AM

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Former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern and former president George W Bush celebrate St. Patrick's Day at the White House

Photo by Google Images

Check out the slideshow of the history here

In 1952, Ireland’s ambassador to the US, John Hearne, sent a small box of shamrocks to US President Harry Truman, unknowingly creating a tradition that is still carried out more than 60 years later. On Tuesday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will present President Barack Obama with the honorary bowl at the White House during the traditional Shamrock ceremony.

Diarmaid Keane of the US Embassy in Dublin explains that “From Reagan to Clinton, Nixon to JFK – every U.S. President since 1952 has embraced the Shamrock ceremony at The White House differently.” In honor of the ceremony and its tradition, the US Embassy, with help from the National Archives of Ireland and the RTE archives, have put together an eight minute promotional video and photo gallery which shows how the Shamrock ceremony has evolved over the years, Broadsheet.ie reports. The video features photos of former Taoisigh, including Dr Garret FitzGerald, Charles Haughey, John Bruton, Albert Reynolds, Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen and Enda Kenny, handing over shamrock at the White House.

Watch ‘St. Patrick’s Day in the White House’ Video:

Irish potter, Mary Staunton from Kylemore, Co. Galway is particularly delighted about the ceremony this year as a hamper of her handcrafted pottery containing six mugs, a milk jug and sugar bowl and carrying the famous Fuchsia design of the Kylemore pottery, will be presented to Michelle Obama, Independent.ie reveals. "It's so exciting, I'm absolutely thrilled,” she said, "It's just amazing to think that it will be on Michelle Obama's table. I really couldn't believe it when I heard.

Check out the slideshow of the history here

See more: St Patrick's Day , US president , Irish in US Politics , Irish Politics , Fine Gael , Fianna Fail , Sinn Fein , Irish Traditions , Irish Entertainment

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Seanmor | Mar 19, 2013, 06:52 PM EDT

President Truman had a very good reason to be respectful of Ireland's treasured emblem on 17 March, 1952, but not because of anything that Ambassador Hearne's government had done for the U.S. The previous month the bodies of 6 young Irishmen were shipped back to Ireland for burial, hasving been killed in action as U.S. soldiers in Korea, though they were ALL Irish citizens. The casket containing the remains of Corporal Patrick Sheehan, one of the 6 Irish K.I.A.s, was placed in front of the altar in St.Patrick's Cathedral as a special mass was said for the 6 young heroes. Sheehan had been awarder a BRONZE STAR for bravery and later a SILVER STAR (posthumously) for his BRAVERY in the battlefields. Now that 50,000 or undocumented Irish are seeking permanent visas, the Irish American media should give Carporal Patrick Sheehan (of Moyvane, Kerry) and his fellow K.I.A.s widespred publicity.

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Searlit | Mar 19, 2013, 12:21 PM EDT

I know some posters on IC think that it's a waste of money for the Taoiseach of Ireland to bring Shamrocks to the US President each year. It's important that you stay in touch with friends, whether on a personal or national level. Like tjem or not (I like both leaders ) on the world stage, they have a major role to play, in representing the people of their countries.

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STEVENSTAR | Mar 19, 2013, 12:16 PM EDT

YA AND WHAT GOOD HAS IT DONE ?? NONE.. THESE IDIOTS RUNNING OVER THERE EVERY YEAR WITH BOWLS OF SHAMROCKS WHILE THE COUNTRY IS IN A MESS.. WE'VE ENDA KENNY OVER THERE NOW OVER AGAIN ON ANOTHER GRAND TOUR... WHILE WE OVER HERE ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF EUROPE WITH MASS UNEMPLOYMENT 14.6%!! SO NOTHINGS CHANGED THERE.. THESE IDIOTS CANT EVEN MANAGE TO RUN A SMALL TINY COUNTRY LIKE IRELAND WITH 4.7 MILLION CITIZENS WHICH IS THE SIZE OF NORTH LONDON... ITS TIME NOW TO CHANGE THE RECORD LADS AND COP YOURSELVES ON !!!. AND GET RID OF THESE IDIOTS OUT OF IRISH POLITICS AND GET SOME NEW FRESH YOUNGER BLOOD INTO IRISH POLITICS FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL !!! ...CAUSE I KNOW IF I WAS THERE I'D GET THAT BOWL OF SHAMROCK .. & DUMP IT OVER KENNY'S HEAD AND SEND HIM BACK TO IRELAND TO DO SOME PROPER WORK !!!

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