St Patrick's Day Custom

The Drowning of the Shamrock

'The "drowning of the shamrock"  by no means implies that it is necessary to get drunk in doing so. At the end of the day the shamrock which has been worn in the coat or hat is removed and put into the final glass of grog or tumbler of punch; and when the health has been drunk or the toast honoured, the shamrock should be picked out from the bottom of the glass and thrown over the left shoulder.'
Extract from the 'Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society' (1908)