Taoiseach presents Irish-made crystal bowl with live Irish shamrock to US President for St Patrick’s Day 2026

Taoiseach Micheál Martin today presented an Irish-made crystal bowl containing fresh shamrock to the President of the United States, Donald J Trump, at the White House on the occasion of St Patrick’s Day 2026.

The presentation of shamrock to the White House has long been a symbol of the friendship between Ireland and the United States. This tradition dates back to 1953, when Ambassador John Joseph Hearne, Ireland’s Ambassador to the United States (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. Shamrock has previously been presented in a silver bowl, with both options embodying Ireland's commitment to excellence in design and artistry.

The first Taoiseach to present the shamrock was John A Costello in 1956 and, since then, this ceremonial gesture has become an annual tradition conducted by the Taoiseach of the day. The bowl used for this presentation is sourced from various suppliers in Ireland, with design, manufacture and quality at the forefront of selection criteria. In recent years, artisan craftspeople have been included in the creation of these bowls, ensuring that each presentation reflects the finest of Irish craftsmanship.

For this year’s ceremony, the shamrock was provided by Living Shamrock, a company based in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry. The fresh shamrock was grown and harvested for export with the required phytosanitary certifications.

The crystal bowl, presented to President Trump, was created by the House of Waterford, part of the Fiskars Group, known for its Irish crystal production. The cut pattern flows and intertwines around the bowl in a continuous rhythm, symbolising the shared friendship between Ireland and America – two histories meeting, crossing and shaping one another over time. Each cut catches and releases light, echoing lives lived across the Atlantic and the enduring connections formed through migration, memory and belonging. At its heart, a delicately cut shamrock rests within the crystal – a timeless emblem of Irish identity and good fortune – held gently within the embrace of the wider design. Together, the intertwining cuts and central shamrock form a quiet expression in crystal: a celebration of friendship not loudly declared, but deeply felt – enduring and illuminated through shared light.

The annual tradition of presenting shamrock at the White House reflects the deep cultural and diplomatic ties between Ireland and the United States. The presentation ceremony provides a special opportunity to celebrate Ireland’s rich heritage, its strong ties with the US and the shared values of friendship, peace and prosperity between the two nations.