Milleridge Boasts "World's Largest Shamrock"

by Maureen Daly

The historic Milleridge Inn in Jericho - which played a historic role in the American Revolution - is making history again. This time by making the Guinness Book of World Records by creating the world's largest painted Shamrock.

Workers at Milleridge painted the giant green 1,100-square-foot creation in its parking lot in an attempt to unseat the concrete shamrock that is "the pride of O'Neill, Nebraska." Until last month, the O'Neill shamrock was the world's largest. It was made a permanent fixture in green colored concrete at an intersection in the center of that city in 1993.

If recognized by Guinness, the Milleridge Inn shamrock will break the record for the world's largest shamrock for a second time. The Milleridge Inn and officials of the Town of Oyster Bay had previously bested O'Neill's record in March 2018, by unveiling a 1,000-square-foot shamrock, which was also painted in the parking lot of the restaurant, organizers said.

This year's shamrock was unveiled during a socially distanced event that was attended by representatives from the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens. The Nassau County Firefighters Pipe and Drums and Irish dancers provided entertainment. The event was also attended by Nassau County legislators James Kennedy and Rose Marie Walker, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D'Esposito, as well as Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Vicki Walsh.

Jeff Clark, vice president of the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens, said the organization was proud to be on-hand to witness the record-breaking shamrock that was crafted in the village.

"I am delighted that we were able to be a part of this momentous occasion," said Clark.

"I want to thank the Irish American Society and the bagpipers, along with the team at the Milleridge Inn, for making this St. Patrick's Day more special than ever before," added Legislator James Kennedy.

Nassau County Legislator Rose Marie Walker said that her family traces its roots back to Ireland, and creating the largest shamrock in the world is a great way to celebrate Irish heritage.

"I would love to break the record again next year," she said.