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Michelle Obama wants to grow shamrock at the White House

Request by First Lady for shamrock seeds for her garden

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, March 14, 2011, 7:28 AM

Updated Monday, March 14, 2011, 7:28 AM

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US first lady Michelle Obama smiles as she helps students plant herbs in the White House Kitchen Garden

Photo by Reuters

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

Michelle Obama, has requested shamrock seeds to begin growing Ireland’s national plant in the White House garden.

Living Shamrock, the company that grows the shamrock that the Irish Prime Minster gives to the US president every year on St.Patrick’s Day has received a request from the First Lady to grow her own for next year.

The shamrock presented to the president is always destroyed afterwards because of security protocol.
The shamrock for the White House is grown in County Kerry in a unique, soil-free environment.

"Our shamrock is grown in a soil-free environment, so when it arrives in Washington it is still a living plant with the roots intact," the company director Joe Sugrue told the Irish Independent.

"This means it lasts for more than 12 days and does not wilt. It would even survive for up to a month in a fridge. The shamrock is presented to the president in a special personalised bowl. We are very proud to be associated with providing the shamrock for the president and there is a buzz associated with it," he said.

President Obama will receive the shamrock from Prime Minster Kenny is what has become known as the Shamrock ceremony in the White House on Thursday, St.Patrick’s Day

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams will also be present at the White House for a reception later that night as will new Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore.

Visit our special St. Patrick's Day section

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56 Comments

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mcsan1942 | Mar 05, 2013, 03:40 PM EST

Hmmm, some people will do anything to get their name in the paper as if we don't see her monkey face enough. So now, just where is she planning on planting the shamrock at? around or beside the watermellons?

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longislander1940 | Mar 28, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT

Bush went home, he didnt run around the world unless it was for the countries good. I notice Michele's wardrobe got much more expensive also.

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floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 09:09 AM EDT

Okay, now it seems the first part of the message is not here so:How embarassing to have such things being said about the First Lady! I first learned of prejudice from my 'Black Irishman' father (McCourt wrote his maternal grandmother called them 'the Spaniards of Galway.')

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floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 09:05 AM EDT

Continuing my entry: I first saw my father as a human being and not the all-knowing perfect person when he was complaining to a few of his friends (at a party with libations)about a white woman being harassed by two black men. Without repeating his comments, let me tell you this girl of 8 y/o told him he was wrong! That is probably one of the events that led me to help others and try to overcome that kind of thinking. It still does amaze me how something so benign as shamrocks and a black american first lady can be so threatening to others. I cannot displace my anger, frustration on others, because of their race, religion, etc. If I should ever be tempted, I need to stop and take an inventory of what is going on with me---not them. What in me is so threatened? Then my focus is back on myself and what I am doing/can do to improve a situation. Please think before you enter a comment, and please edit it before you press the button. And how would you feel if the same were said about your own family/friends?

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floridafinn | Mar 18, 2011, 08:36 AM EDT

How embarassing to have these comments made about anybody! I'm afraid I learned about racism from my father, a 'Black Irishman.' (from McCourt's writings:'Oh, those Spaniards from Galway.)

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seanomelbourne | Mar 16, 2011, 02:53 AM EDT

Never did pass a bar in Illinois. Educating teahadist is like sucking lemons sour and bitter.

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seanomelbourne | Mar 15, 2011, 10:27 PM EDT

As a matter of fact, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois Bar. Like Hillary Clinton and a great many other very successful lawyers, business executives and politians, she did not pass on the first try but did on the second - the Illinois Bar, like California and New York, is amongst the toughest in the country and a good many fail several times before success. As for the poster bearing the singularly inappropriate moniker "MotherIrish," if indeed this undisguised and unashamed bigot is a mother then we can only grieve for the misfortune befallen her children.

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McNamara31 | Mar 15, 2011, 10:11 PM EDT

Carolynirish.. Bush spent 1020 days away from the White House on vacation. You don't think that cost the American people a ton of money for extra protection, transportation etc? Let's be fair now. The party affiliation mentioned was in the context of Bush, not you or your family. So your family has defended our country, as has mine: husband, brother and father. Does that make us more American in your eyes? I am more proud of the American principles they fought to uphold, and the Irish principles my immigrant father taught us about fairness and equality of our fellow man or women. In your eyes Michelle Obama failed. In mine she has succeeded brilliantly. Should I go on to tell you Mrs. Obama was raised by a father in a wheel chair with MS, excelled in school, graduated Harvard(sounds like the American dream to me)… But I have a feeling that won’t make a difference to you.

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Carolynirish | Mar 15, 2011, 09:28 PM EDT

McNamara31 I have a life, a family and a career. I didn't mention her party afffilation - you did and you seem to assume that I belong to another party--never assume. If you remember Bush went to his own ranch to relax. He did not send his wife and daughter to Paris and a few days follow so the American people had to pay for it twice. This is MY COUNTRY. My family has defendent her , especially in time of war. Can she say that?? You must have missed her comment about being ashamed of the US. You seem to miss my point- she gave up - she FAILED- she didn't try again. Please tell me how she has improved the US.

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seanomelbourne | Mar 15, 2011, 07:13 PM EDT

Motherf--Irish ignorant and at the same time very sad.Maloney has found a soulmate.They can sit in Maloney's trashy trailer sucking cans of beer watching p--ox television.

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mamaginnty | Mar 15, 2011, 01:12 PM EDT

MOTHERIRISH, I am actually embarrassed that the likes of you has chosen to call yourself Motherirish. It is quite obvious you do not live in Ireland. Better to be honest and call yourself...the mother of all bigots.

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jamieLM | Mar 15, 2011, 11:03 AM EDT

MotherIrish - such venom for the First Lady of the United States of America. If Mrs. Obama grew wings and a halo, you'd still hate her. I'd like to see you in her role - being constantly criticized and unable to please people, no matter what you do. What makes you such a fashionista to comment on her clothes? If she wore more expensive clothes, you'd be griping about how much she spent on her wardrobe. So she doesn't know how to garden to your high standards. Give me a break. You don't have to agree with the Obama's politics to be respectful of the role of First Lady that Michelle is trying to fill. Think you could be the PERFECT First Lady with the eyes and the mouths of the world on you every minute. Good Luck. I know I wouldn't last a nanosecond.

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MotherIrish | Mar 15, 2011, 09:37 AM EDT

IF the woman even knew how to tend a garden - she doesn't - the WH gardners do - she would know that it is not seeds she needs - that is not how they grow - she is only street smart and in the USA we know what that means. SHE PANDERS all the time, she wears frumpy looking clothes to those who think she is a fashion icon (NOT) and she does not really know how to get her hands dirty in a garden by tending it on a daily basis with water, hoeing, deadheading, insect detection and all. All she knows about is cow manure that she and her husband spew. Wait until they come to Ireland and find out how much they will suck out of your fragil ecomony with the huge bunch of hangers on that they bring. You want them? Take them, be my guest and the guest of millions of Americans.

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McNamara31 | Mar 15, 2011, 08:31 AM EDT

Carolynirish Yes indeed she's self made and so much of your response was based on how much the Obama's love to travel on your "dime". Facts are the Bush family spent 1020 days on "vacation" at Camp David, Crawford and Kennebunkport. So much for that mythological "hard work" ethic the Republicans are supposed to have.

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maireadinmelb | Mar 15, 2011, 04:47 AM EDT

Carolyn are you jealous of the fact that this woman has had a career and a family and been successful at both? What a load of rubbish!! She has worked hard and continues to work hard to improve her country!

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