Shamrock’s historic and symbolic US roots

Colm O’Broin misses the point of the Taoiseach giving a bowl of shamrock to the US president every year.

It represents a shared history between the countries.

St Patrick’s Day was celebrated in America first, in 1790, by Irish businessmen. Irish men and women fought for US independence, and on both sides of the civil war. Latterly, Bill Clinton and George Mitchell influenced our history. In political speak, I’m sure you could call it ‘access’ or ‘a photo op’, but symbolism and history say otherwise.