Alan Jenkins (65) from Co Cork, opened his business with partner Pat Burke just seven weeks ago, and the duo have been overwhelmed by the demand for Irish soil.

"We knew the market was there, but we were still blown away by the response, " Jenkins told the Sunday Tribune. "Within 15 minutes of launching, our website crashed from all the orders. And it's not just Americans . . .

we have customers from all around the world . . . Europe, Australia, Asia, everywhere."

One Irish-American customer has decided that a sprinkle of Irish soil on his grave is not sufficient, and has decided to pay $100,000 to have his entire coffin buried in Irish dirt.

"He decided that if he was buried in Ireland, no one would visit his grave, " said Jenkins. "So to have the best of both worlds, he decided to pay for all the soil to be imported. He's given us a $25,000 deposit."

Jenkins came up with the idea while on holiday in the States 10 years ago, when a group of Irish-Americans expressed their desire to have some of the 'auld sod' to sprinkle on their coffins. He returned to Ireland, certain he'd be able to set up the business, but found that US trade rules ban soil imports to prevent foreign pests invading the country's crops.

Then last February Jenkins met an agricultural scientist who solved the problem, and he patented a method of sanitizing the dirt. His website, Officialirishdirt. com, also sells packets of shamrocks which can be sewn in the Irish soil. "For the first time in 400 years, Irish people in America will be able to grow their own Irish shamrocks in Irish soil in their adopted country, " said Jenkins. "They've been selling really well, and we expect a huge response from customers in the run-up to St Patrick's Day."

Unusually for a businessman, Jenkins has decided to give 80% of the net profits of the business to charity, and is already in talks with The Jack and Jill Foundation in Ireland, as well as Temple Street Children's Hospital, Cork Children's Hospital and the charity of Sister Concilio. "I'm 65 years old and I just thought that it was time that I gave something back, " he said, adding that with roughly 34 million Americans claiming some measure of Irish ancestry, "the growth potential is unlimited."