All the presidents’ roots in Ireland

QUESTION Who was the first US president with Irish roots? THE first US president with Irish roots was Andrew Jackson, the fifth US president, who held office from 1829 to 1837. He had strong Scotch-Irish connections, as did 15 other presidents, right up to the time of Jimmy Carter, who was US president from 1977 to 1981.

As for Andrew Jackson, he was born in America in 1767, two years after his parents had emigrated there from the North of Ireland.

Well into the 20th century, the tradition of US presidents having Scotch-Irish connections persisted, including with such famous presidents as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Harry S Truman.

That long-standing tradition didn’t change until John F Kennedy became the 35th US president. He was able to visit his descendents in Co. Wexford when he visited in June 1963. The 37th US president, Richard Nixon, also had Scotch-Irish connections. Jimmy Carter, the 37th president, was the most recent to claim Scotch-Irish ancestry; none has done so since. Ronald Reagan, the 40th US president, George W. Bush, the 41st president, and Barack Obama, the 44th president, all were very proud of their Irish ancestry. Bill Clinton, the 42nd president, has always claimed Irish ancestry, despite the absence of any documentation to prove it. Today, around 35million Americans claim full or partial Irish descent, although many political observers say that Irish connections are of declining importance in US presidential elections. M Doyle, Tullow, Co. Carlow. QUESTION How do the Japanese eradicate Japanese knotweed? KNOTWEED is controlled in Japan by native predators and the environment. A little-known fact about it is that it can be eaten by humans. Young shoots, growing tips and unfurled leaves are edible and taste of lemony rhubarb.

It is a source of vitamins A and C, potassium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus. It has also been used to treat respiratory infections. James Parry, Stroud, Glos.