An established shamrock grower is calling for a revival of the St Patrick's Day emblem after seeing sales fall rapidly in recent years.
Gearóid O'Neill fears that the fresh trefoil will die out and has called on GAA clubs and other organisations to herald the wearing of the shamrock among the younger generations.
Traditionally, the three-leafed shamrock is said to have been used by St Patrick to illustrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity when Christianising Ireland in the fifth century, and it is worn on his feast day on March 17th.
O'Neills Flowers in Carlingford, Co. Louth was producing 110,000 pots of shamrock in 2015 produced but in less than ten years, demand has fallen to 50,000 pots and Gearóid believes that figure will decrease further next year.
With four growers in the south and one in the north, he is concerned that the three-leafed clover is not far from extinct on the Emerald Isle.
"We are a family business and have been growing shamrock for over 50 years, since my father Gerry started in the 70s," said the dad of two.
"However, we have noticed a sharp decrease in sales and demand, especially since Covid-19.
"Numbers of people going to Mass on St Patrick's Day have dropped off, and it is usually the older generation that still wear the shamrock attached to their lapels on the day.
"You would rarely see the younger generation sporting the shamrock and, unless you are watching the politicians on the TV, I'd say you could count on one hand those you meet on St Patrick's Day with shamrock.
"Brexit also impacted our export business as there is too much paperwork now to export the way we used to. We did send over shamrock in the past to US President Joe Biden when our neighbours and former Irish Rugby player Rob Kearney was visiting the White House as he is a relation.
"The Office of Public Works would also ring asking for some for our own President Michael D Higgins."
He said the weather has not done any favours either. They grow shamrock on a half acre under glass in greenhouses so they are protected from the wind and the rain but they need a lot of light.
"The shamrock are grown from seed in September/October before being transplanted into container pots in January. The dark, damp days really affect their growth.
"There are about four growers in the north and one in the south and, alike a lot of other horticultural growers, some of those would be considering retirement in the coming years. I'd say unless people start buying it and wearing the green again, both the shamrock and the tradition are not far off extinction.
"If you go to Dublin's James Gate and ask for a Guinness, it will be emblazoned with a shamrock in the cream. But no-one seems to want to wear the emblem of St Patrick's Day any more.
"I would be urging GAA and all the sporting clubs to introduce the shamrock to the younger players, telling them of its importance and setting a trend again in wearing it. It might even make a TikTok craze."
