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Shamrock tradition at White House started as a anti-British move

Harry Truman was first to accept shamrock bowl from Irish

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:33 AM

Updated Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:33 AM

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Ambassador Thomas Kiernan presents to JFK with the traditional shamrock

Photo by PA

Ever wonder where the shamrock sharing tradition between the Irish Prime Minister and the President of the United States came from?

Enda Kenny will be the latest in a long line when he presentes the shamrock to president Obama on Tuesday March 20th for the second time.

Well wonder no further! It turns out that the custom started in 1952 when then Irish ambassador to the U.S. John Joseph Hearne left some shamrock off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for President Harry Truman, who was away at the time.

Hearne delivered the gift in an effort to improve the relationship between the nations, which had cooled after Ireland’s neutral position during World War II.

“Hearne was rather go-ahead for an ambassador at the time. Others tended to just get involved in Irish communities and their politics, but St Patrick’s Day was one way for Hearne to improve Irish-American relations which were really in bad shape after the war,” said the executive editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, Michael Kennedy, according to Journal.ie.

Hearne’s gesture has led to today’s symbolic gesture of the Irish premier presenting a bowl of shamrock to the U.S. president in what is an annual reaffirming of the strong historic ties between the two nations.

It also helped to promote St. Patrick’s Day celebrations not only in the large cities but also across the country and is one of the most symbolic image of the annual celebrations in America.

Nster.com

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IrelandNorth | Apr 04, 2012, 08:41 AM EDT

Whatever about it being anti-British. Still think they should dry the old weed oout in the White House microwave and roll a few shamrock joints. Particularlly back then in the swinging '60s. Hey man! Like, groovey baby! Make love not war! Ban the bomb! All we are saying. Is give peace a chance.

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richard cahill | Mar 21, 2012, 08:39 AM EDT

I meant to say also that the article was poorly written as well as lacking esearched content [poor 6th grade mark].

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richard cahill | Mar 21, 2012, 08:35 AM EDT

I've tried to understand how it is possible to interpret giving a present of our national emblem to the President of the USA., could in any way insult Britain. Even back in the historical context of the time this would have been embarrassing to Irish people.[Don't forget Ireland was infact included in the Marshall Plan at that time]. I am sad that there is a non productive anti british bias creeping into this discussion. Dick Cahill, Bllymote, Sligo

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BrianinKent | Mar 21, 2012, 06:33 AM EDT

Did I read that article right? To improve Irish/American relations after the war the Ambassador sent shamrock to an absent Truman and Dara Kelly sees this as an anti-British move? The Queen Mother presented the Irish Guards with shamrock every St Patricks day , long before this American practice started..Was she anti-British too?

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roibaird | Mar 20, 2012, 09:24 PM EDT

Holy Jaysus! I've read plenty of the anti British lot on this site but this one takes cake!!! Lol and lot of friggen tripe! These guys must wake up every morning with a " what can I write about anti British today?and some of the comments are worse than the writers! I try not to laugh ., I would suggest to you anti British guys......... its the year 2012 and more so, time to move on. well past the move on era.......... and yer man Dev and Truman partners???????FDR would turn in his grave hearing that .. What a lot of tripe ! Were they both in unison when Dev paid his visit to the German Embassy on Hitlers death. I doubt that .

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oldboreen | Mar 20, 2012, 04:07 PM EDT

An unbelievably silly and deliberately provocative article Mr Kelly! There might be some merit in it however-were all your 'facts' correct! And as for your headline-I commend your powers of imagination! Slow day at the office?

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citizen69 | Mar 20, 2012, 01:14 PM EDT

I've read some stupid headlines on this site! Dara you idiot, in what way are you suggesting this event is anti-British?

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roryobrien | Mar 20, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

Pity people don't study History anymore. Ireland's relations with the US were hardly helped by DeValera signing the Book of Condolence at the German embassy in May 1945 though in truth the bad blood went back to the appointment of a man called Gray or Grey as US Ambassador in 1940 or 1941. Grey was fond of fox-hunting and naturally found himself more at home in anglophile circles than having a pint and dancing at the crossroads and never ceased to berate the Irish government privately and publicly for their neutrality during WWII. Ireland could well have done without this unsympathetic individual, which makes me often wonder what the State Department's thinking was to appoint him. Cordell Hull, depite being a rabid Catholic, was indeed no friend of Ireland.

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Ballyphehane1 | Mar 20, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT

I'm with you there RinehartS. Is there a second page to this article that wasn't published - the one that actually supports the headline?

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RinehartS | Mar 20, 2012, 09:55 AM EDT

I know a little of the history between the US and Ireland and I know about some of the actions Ireland took during WWII, but I'm not sure how "Hearne delivered the gift in an effort to improve the relationship between the nations, which had cooled after Ireland’s neutral position during World War II." Translates as an "anti-British" move? Did I miss something?

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