The clip hereunder points to a well-known Kerrygold television advertisement, in which an Irish emigrant brings home soil abroad so that a child born overseas can “touch Irish soil first”.
Tipperary to Illinois.
A box of soil and grass gathered in Co Tipperary has been sent nearly 4,000 miles to the United States after an American couple asked that their newborn daughter’s first touch of “Irish ground” could happen at their home.
Mr Michael Murphy and his wife Nikki, who live in Illinois, arranged the delivery through friends in Tipperary shortly after the birth of their daughter, Vivienne, last month. The couple have not visited Ireland, but Mr Murphy can trace his family roots to Co. Armagh and says Irish culture has long been a major interest in their home.
A short video showing Vivienne’s foot touching the box of Irish soil was shared on social media some weeks ago and has since attracted almost five million views.
Speaking in an interview, Mr Murphy described the moment as being deeply meaningful for their family, and said they hope to visit Ireland sometime in the future, including the River Shannon and family places connected with his grandfather in Belleek, Co Armagh. He said the gesture was also intended as a lesson for their daughter encouraging her curiosity, respect and openness to other cultures.
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