Trump to attend Irish Open at his Doonbeg course Saturday–Sunday

Ireland home to major US tech and pharma firms

Officials steer itinerary away from Dublin city center

US President Donald Trump speaks on the second day of the Republican National Committee's midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday (local time). [EPA]
US President Donald Trump speaks on the second day of the Republican National Committee's midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday (local time). [EPA]

Ireland is bracing for the arrival of US President Donald Trump, with the government working to keep his movements tightly controlled and anti-Trump protesters well out of his sight — and to avoid any friction with Washington.

Trump will visit Ireland this weekend, Saturday and Sunday (local time), to attend the Irish Open golf tournament at his own Doonbeg course, according to Yonhap.

Politico Europe reported Friday that the Irish government's top priority is ensuring protesters remain as invisible to Trump as possible, keeping him away from central Dublin and confined to more easily secured venues — a park and a golf course on the country's west coast.

"This is not a state visit — he's coming to watch golf," a senior official said. "We just need to get him through Dublin as smoothly and uneventfully as possible."

Trump is expected to arrive at Dublin Airport aboard the new Air Force One gifted by Qatar, then fly by Marine One helicopter directly to Phoenix Park — a large public park in Dublin that serves as a major venue for diplomatic events.

To accommodate the visit, Ireland had to close the zoo and recreational facilities inside Phoenix Park from Thursday, but that arrangement allowed officials to sidestep an earlier US proposal to include a visit to the site of the new American Embassy under construction in central Dublin, Politico reported. "A ground-breaking ceremony in the middle of the capital would have been a security and logistics nightmare," a senior official said.

Some 4,000 security personnel will be deployed to cover both the Phoenix Park schedule and the trip to Doonbeg, with about 1,000 of them from the US side — including Secret Service agents and personnel handling drone-defense equipment.

Public enthusiasm for the visit is limited. A recent poll by the Sunday Independent and Ireland Thinks found that more than two-thirds of respondents said they did not welcome the trip.

Even so, the Irish government is keen to avoid any confrontation with Trump. Many major US technology companies and pharmaceutical firms have established their European headquarters in Ireland to take advantage of its tax regime, and the economic benefits they generate are a vital engine of the Irish economy.

With that in mind, since Trump returned to power last year, Dublin has made "not being targeted" by his administration its central goal in managing the bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Micheál Martin's visits to the White House and summits with Trump have gone smoothly for two consecutive years.

"We cannot escape the fact that we are heavily dependent on the United States," an Irish official said. "That is why President Trump will receive a full welcome in our country."

Separate from the government's efforts, anti-Trump protests are expected to proceed. A rally dubbed "Trump is Unwelcome" is planned in Dublin on Saturday to protest his policies on Gaza, immigration and climate change, and demonstrations are also expected around Doonbeg and nearby Shannon Airport.

There is also concern about a potential meeting between Trump and Irish President Catherine Connolly, the country's ceremonial head of state. A left-leaning politician and vocal supporter of Palestinians, Connolly publicly criticized Trump before taking office and participated in protests against his visit to Ireland in 2019.


eyre@heraldcorp.com