Kilkenny sparkles in the White House!
US President Donald Trump was bowled over after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presented him with a beautiful piece of Kilkenny Crystal in the White House.
Images of the shamrock bowl, which was made in Callan, have been beamed around the world in recent hours in a major global coup for the local company.
Callan has very strong links with the US. It is also the home town of James Hoban, the Irish American who designed the White House.
Mr Varadkar presented the Kilkenny Crystal bowl to President Trump as he spoke about the strong links between Ireland and the US.
President Trump was also presented with a commemorative coin to mark 100 years of female suffrage, when women first got the vote.
Mr Varadkar told President Trump: “We love America and the promise of America. And we know that making America Great Again, will not mean forgetting or losing sight of what makes it great already.
“And so, Mr. President, in the spirit of our long shared history and friendship, it gives me great pleasure to present you with the shamrock bowl.
“Happy St Patrick’s Day!”
