Kingdom growers get the global green party started

A three-leaved plant native to Ireland, the shamrock is recognised and cherished by people here and around the world. It represents Irish culture in all its forms; it’s a religious symbol which St Patrick used to teach people about the Holy Trinity, an ode to the Irish countryside and culture, and a sign of luck.

“It’s a symbol of who we are and where we have come from,” says James O’Leary who project manages Skellig Shamrock (formerly Living Shamrock) for IPI Teoranta.

Skellig Shamrock, the country’s biggest shamrock farm, went through a re-brand and name change this year. “You have Skellig Gin, Skellig Chocolate, now you have Skellig Shamrocks,” says James.

The Kerryman has always had an interest in horticulture. “As a child, I would have been growing lettuce in the front garden on the side of a mountain outside Kenmare and selling it locally.”

The fresh shamrock is grown in a nursery in Ballinskelligs. Nursery manager, Joe Sugrue, is in charge of the growing and harvesting operation and he has been growing shamrock for the business for 28 years.

“I’m beyond retirement and I’ve been at it since I was 18 years old,” says Joe. “I’ve worked in nurseries all my life and I’m born and raised in Ballinaskelligs. I’ve never left it except on holidays.”

Normally there are six staff in the nursery, but that number increases at different points in the season.

“Growing the shamrock is a six-month process,” says Joe. “We put the crop in the last week of September and first week of October and we harvest at the end of February and start of March. For planting, there’s about 14 staff and for harvesting there’s about 25 of us. Shamrock must go in very fast and come out very fast. Those are two very intense periods and the rest of the time it’s just watching them grow.”

Skellig Shamrocks grow two products for different markets.

“We grow shamrock in skillet pots for the Irish market. Then we also grow fresh shamrock that comes in a lapel for wearing. It’s grown in hydroponic gel [grown without soil] so it can be exported to America. We bring it over and once it arrives, it’s kept in cool conditions and it’ll be absolutely perfect.”

Joe and James both describe the nursery in Ballinaskelligs as a “perfect sea of green”.

“It still impresses me every time I see it. It’s fabulous,” says James.

International soil

The business started around 25 years ago, around the time that Teagasc and UCD were conducting research on growing shamrock without soil.

“There was a view to growing without soil so it could be exported into the US,” explains James. A number of growers had operations, but Skellig Shamrock managed to successfully scale the business.

“We thought we’re going to be millionaires straight away. People abroad want to celebrate their Irishness more and there’s 40 million ethnic Irish in America and there’s 80 million ethnic Irish worldwide.

“We figured if we can just get this into America, this is a done deal. Of course, it wasn’t that straightforward,” says James, laughing.

Religious symbolism aside, the native plant has become an important diplomatic symbol, at the annual Shamrock Ceremony at the White House on St Patrick’s Day.

On 17 March (or 12 March as it was scheduled this year), the Taoiseach presents the US president with a Waterford Crystal bowl spilling with shamrocks, a symbol of the ties between the two countries.

For approximately 20 years, Skellig Shamrock have supplied the shamrock for the Taoiseach’s visit, a tradition that began in 1952 when Irish Ambassador John Hearne left President Truman a small box of shamrocks outside his door.

The following year, Hearne was appointed 15 minutes with President Eisenhower to present the shamrock more formally, explains James. And so it continued.

“Every year, there are questions around why we would be sending our ministers abroad for St Patrick’s Day – and the cost of it. But any other country would give their right hand to have an event where they are so warmly welcomed, where they can interact. It’s a huge opportunity,” says James.

“It is wonderful that Skellig Shamrocks get to be involved and to be very active participants in our national day every year. It’s a privilege and obviously one we’re very proud of.”

Besides America, James explains that they get many orders from the UK, Europe and the Middle East including Dubai and Qatar.

Any other country would give their right hand to have an event where they are so warmly welcomed, where they can interact. It’s a huge opportunity

“Anywhere there are Irish organisations, they want shamrock for an event on St Patrick’s Day. We also get requests where somebody from Ireland will be getting married abroad and they want to wear a shamrock on their lapel as a symbol of their Irishness. Or in bereavement, if somebody would like shamrock on the altar or on the coffin.”

Every year, they supply shamrock to the Irish regiments in the British Army who mark St Patrick’s Day by wearing shamrocks on their berets, a tradition dating back to 1900.

“Queen Victoria decreed that because the Irish regiments fought so bravely during the Boer War, they would be allowed to wear their shamrock on their uniforms,” explains James.

“Overall, our business increases year on year. The only thing that I’m sorry about is we’ve only one St Patrick’s Day. On 18 March, nobody wants shamrock. It’s a bit like poinsettias at Christmas,” adds Joe.

As part of their mission to get more people wearing shamrock, Skellig Shamrock have launched a fundraiser for primary schools (Ready to Wear Shamrock) where they distribute sponsorship cards and children take orders of fresh shamrock for family and friends for St Patrick’s Day. Fresh shamrock lapels sell at €4 and the school retains €2.

“The school keeps 50% for their own fundraising and we’re introducing the culture to young children. There’s an education element to it.

“We’re working with around 100 primary schools in the country. Ideally, we we want to build that up to somewhere between 300 and 500 schools,” explains James.

Skellig Shamrock is also finding its way onto the food shelves as a supplier for Keoghs Crisps.

Tom Keogh, founder and managing director of Keoghs Crisps says, “We actually started our Shamrock and Sour Cream crisps as a bit of a gimmick for St Patrick’s Day a few years ago. We had limited stock for the day that was in it. But then we kept getting calls for the public asking where they went. So we started making them again, and the flavour has become so popular, we’ve been stocking it ever since.

“We export to America and the shamrock crisps are our second most popular flavour. We’re the only company in the world using shamrocks as a food ingredient but they’ve been a big hit,” says Tom.