President Donald Trump has hailed "the long and unique friendship between Americans and the Irish" after being gifted a bowl of shamrock by Ireland's premier Micheal Martin.The shamrock-gifting ceremony is the centrepiece of the Irish Government's major overseas diplomatic push in the run-up to St Patrick's Day on March 17.Mr Trump said: "I love the Irish. I've had great, great friends over the years, and I love the Irish - special people - and I've been to Ireland many times."

President Donald Trump has hailed "the long and unique friendship between Americans and the Irish" after being gifted a bowl of shamrock by Ireland's premier Micheal Martin.The shamrock-gifting ceremony is the centrepiece of the Irish Government's major overseas diplomatic push in the run-up to St Patrick's Day on March 17.Mr Trump said: "I love the Irish. I've had great, great friends over the years, and I love the Irish - special people - and I've been to Ireland many times."