Shamrock Shakes: The Season With a Reason

By Petra Gammon

St. Patrick's day is widely celebrated around the world. Citywide parades are held globally. Rivers are dyed a bright shade of green. Shamrock t-shirts are worn with pride. In the USA, Canada,  New Zealand, Australia, and parts of the United Kingdom Mcdonald’s released a limited time beverage called the Shamrock Shake. The “limited time” seasonal treat sports a cool minty color and flavor. For many, the nostalgic sips each February through March signify spring is near. What began as a playful variation of the vanilla milkshake has evolved into a multi-cultural phenomenon. 

Created in Connecticut, USA by Hal Rosen, a McDonald’s franchise owner, in 1967, the item was always intended as a St. Patrick’s day treat. The item officially debuted in select Mcdonald’s locations in America in 1970. Originally, the ingredients were vanilla ice cream mixed with lemon-lime sherbet. It was an instant hit! For a limited time only in 1980 the Shamrock Sundae was introduced, made of vanilla soft serve and minty syrup. Around this time, the recipe was changed to be vanilla milkshake based with minty syrup. Despite the positive feedback, Shamrock Shakes have only been nationwide since February of 2012. In countries such as Ireland and Canada the item debuted in 2020. 

From the beginning, a portion of proceeds has gone towards funding the Ronald McDonald House Charities which helps support the families of children going through medical treatment. Supported by the Philadelphia Eagles and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the first house was built in 1974. The initiative behind the charity was to help support Fred Hill, a Philadelphia Eagles player whose daughter named Kim was battling acute lymphatic leukemia. She bravely went on to fight the disease for four years and has since went into remission.

In the present day, the Ronald McDonald House Charities have built more than three-hundred-eighty houses around the world. The charities also serve underprivileged communities healthcare, dental care and health education services with forty-one Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles.

Starting out as a creative concussion, the Shamrock Shake has been keeping families together during both trialing times and joyful moments.