MORE than 55.7 million (£3.7 million) of Irish merchandise is expected to be sold throughout the US on St Patrick's Day through the TV cable shopping channel, QVC. This is expected to be the largest volume of Irish goods ever sold in the US in one day, according to the Irish Trade Board.

From midnight on March 16th to midnight on March 17th, QVC, with an audience of 54 million households, will sell nothing but Irish products. For every minute of the special promotion, an average of 120 customers are expected to buy at a rate of more than $5,000 a minute.

The programmes will feature products from more than 100 companies from all parts of Ireland and will include jewellery, gifts, pottery, designer knitwear, tweeds, crystal and tableware. There will also be guest appearances by many of Ireland's leading manufacturers and designers.

QVC is the single largest US purchaser of Irish consumer goods and expects to sell over $12 million worth this year.