A small Dublin-based company is rolling in the dough thanks to their success in selling Irish dirt to the American market.
By Declan Whooley
Auld Sod Exporting Company began with the ambition of selling modest numbers to nostalgic Americans, but success has come their way much quicker than expected.
Tipperary man Pat Burke told the Irish Independent he conceived the idea five years ago when attending a funeral where the family wanted to scatter Irish soil on the coffin. He quickly realised there was great potential in selling Irish soil for such occasions.
The soil quickly came to be in demand and after overcoming obstacles at the US Department of Agriculture, they are now the only company legally allowed to export Irish soil to the States.
A pound of soil costs $15 dollars and so far the company has exported tens of thousands to North America.
It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it.
