Soil From Ireland

It's not allowed. See the USDA list.

U.S. Customs website:

Soil, Sand, Minerals, and Shells

Soil-borne organisms threaten both plants and animals. If you visited a farm or ranch in a foreign country, agricultural specialists may have to examine and disinfect your shoes or clothing. Vehicles must also be cleaned of any soil. No soil or earth of any kind is allowed into the United States without a permit issued in advance by USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Pure sand, such as a small container of decorative beach sand, is usually allowed. Always check with the permit unit in advance for details.

I know it’s not ideal but you can try some beauty shops over there. They usually sell a “mud mask” kit. That is basically sterilized Irish soil. My sister has bought some for her own reasons but hey it may be the only “legal” way to acomplish your goal.

The ban on bringing in soil is not to be taken lightly. One major reason is the golden nematode, which is a serious potato pest. It exists in Europe, including in Ireland and England. There are pockets in the US ( mainly New York State) but there are major efforts to eradicate it there, and also to keep it from being introduced elsewhere. There is a story, probably apocryphal, that it was originally brought to New York in a bit of the “ould sod” brought from Ireland as a gift.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/uploads/files/Forecasting_invasion_risks/goldenNematode.pdf

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/SA_Nematode/ct_nematodes

And there is another nematode, also a potato pest, that is present in IrelNd but not here . . . Yet.

https://nematode.unl.edu/pest5.htm

You may bring back a stone or two but wash them well and declare them on entry. These make a more lasting gift. Find out where her family roots are and try to get one there.

Remember the passenger who got in trouble for bringing back an apple she got on the plane! Because of the serious implications for agriculture, I suspect that bringing in soil would get you in a lot more trouble than bringing in too much alcohol. I know that if I were a judge, that's how I would see it.

Not sure if it was banned or not a few years ago, but we brought home a chunk of Irish peat from my husband's family's part of the country without any trouble.

If all else fails, you can always go this route:
https://www.amazon.com/Biddy-Murphy-Miniature-Authentic-Briquettes/dp/B06WW5CD9C/ref=asc_df_B06WW5CD9C/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312129644854&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=30928511534507960&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010753&hvtargid=aud-466360936450:pla-599702167433&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=68996486824&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312129644854&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=30928511534507960&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010753&hvtargid=aud-466360936450:pla-599702167433

stephb - did you declare it?

How about a soil free small rock?
As a little part of Ireland.

No, we did not declare it. Did not think it needed to be as it didn't seem to fall in food/live categories . . .

Question 11d on the US Customs landing form:
"I am bringing soil or have been on a farm/ranch/pasture ?"

https://tinyurl.com/yde5berr

untreated (un-irradiated) soil is alive. Full of teeny tiny creatures that you need a microscope to see.

The possibility of decontamination at customs is good to know - we definitely plan on going to a sheep farm, and hasn't pretty much everyone who visits been to a pasture?

Does anyone know what the decontamination process entails?

Since they're asking about farm/pasture, I thought "soil" was a euphemism. LOL.

nope, soil is that brown stuff on the ground until you get to rock. Some people call it dirt.

They are trying to prevent stuff like this from coming in:
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/02/deadly-mushroom-arrives-canada/581602/