President Obama to be recipient of Meath-grown shamrock

When President Barack Obama receives his three-leaved shamrock plant from Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the White House on Tuesday next, it will be the completion of the plant's journey from the village of Kilmessan, where it was bred from seed by well-known garden centre owner and horticulturalist, Rosemary Swan. Legend has it that when St Patrick came to Ireland in the fifth century to spread the word of Christianity, he plucked a shamrock from the Hill of Tara to explain to the High King, King Lóegaire, the concept of the Holy Trinity - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The High King reputedly saw a fire burning on the Hill of Slane, even though he had decreed that no fires were to be lit. He sent for the perpetrator to be brought to Tara, and it was at this stage that Patrick demonstrated the Holy Trinity concept to the High King. While the king himself didn't convert to the new beliefs being promoted by the Welsh visitor, he had no objections to his people being converted. Now, shamrock from the very shadow of that Hill of Tara is winging its way from Ringlestown to Pennsylvania Avenue for the annual Irish reception on 20th March.