Madam, – Many years ago, the wearing of a spray of trifolium filiforme on our national saint’s day was practically de rigueur. However, over the past decade or two,there’s been a marked decline in the number of people sporting a sprig of shamrock on St Patrick’s Day. I think this sad development was due in the main to the emergence of the now defunct spendthrift Celtic Tiger, and our apparent new-found affluence;unfortunately, that prosperity turned out to be somewhat ephemeral.
Now that we’re no longer living in clover (indeed, these are truly austere times), might we get to see that once esteemed national emblem (the seamróg) gradually regain its rightful place in the hearts of the good denizens of this green and impecunious land? We might be a tad wiser this St Patrick’s Day. – Yours, etc,