US President Donald Trump will arrive in Ireland on September 12 to attend the Amgen Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf resort in County Clare, the Irish Mail on Sunday has exclusively revealed.
Government sources are already describing the visit as a logistical nightmare, with senior officials privately voicing alarm over the security demands it will place on an already stretched police force.
Kinahan Timing a Major Concern
A central worry within government is the potential overlap between Trump’s arrival and the expected extradition of alleged crime figure Daniel Kinahan from Dubai to Ireland in the coming weeks. Sources say the government hopes the two men do not arrive at the same time.
One senior source said the prospect of Kinahan and the president arriving simultaneously was one they did not want to think about. Another described the visit as one that would create havoc, adding that Trump almost certainly wants to be present for the prize-giving ceremony, having developed a taste for such moments after presenting the FIFA World Cup trophy last month.
Trump’s appearance at that trophy presentation alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino was described as awkward, with the president appearing reluctant to leave the podium as the Spanish players celebrated their victory.
Security Operation Under Pressure
Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, placing additional demands on Garda resources. Sources said officers are already stretched to capacity, and one warned that a week of nationwide protests over Trump was the last thing they needed.
One minister said organising Trump was effectively impossible, noting that even his own staff cannot manage it. A senior minister said planning could only go so far, describing the visit as more a matter of dealing with it hour by hour and hoping he does not declare war on anyone.
The preferred model within government is understood to be George W. Bush’s 2004 visit, during which Bush attended the EU-US summit at Dromoland Castle in County Clare, met Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, stayed one night and left. One source said that would be the ideal outcome.
What the Visit Will Include
If Trump travels to Dublin, he is expected to meet Taoiseach Micheal Martin at Government Buildings and President Catherine Connolly at Aras an Uachtarain. US Ambassador Ed Walsh said in a June interview that he remained confident Trump would turn the sod on the new US Embassy development at the former Jury’s Hotel site in Ballsbridge.
Sources say Trump may also perform the prize-giving at the Irish Open. The tournament runs from September 10 to 13 at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, and is expected to draw more than 20,000 spectators each day. Defending champion Rory McIlroy and Ryder Cup star Jon Rahm are among the players due to compete.
US sources said Trump could not travel before the tournament begins because the 25th anniversary commemorations of the September 11 attacks make his absence from the United States on that date unthinkable.
Operational Challenges at Doonbeg
A senior US official told the Mail on Sunday last month that how Trump would attend a tournament at the Doonbeg location was currently beyond their capabilities to organise. The official noted that spectator attendance is central to the success of any event at a venue owned by the president’s family, but that security arrangements required for his presence would effectively preclude that. Transport access was also cited as a complication, with the remote west Clare venue presenting challenges very different from US venues.
At the 2019 presidential visit to Doonbeg, a 10-mile US Secret Service security cordon was established and public access inside the zone was prohibited. Security concerns have intensified since then following several assassination attempts, including an attack in Pennsylvania in which Trump was shot in the ear.
A recent poll found that more than 70 percent of respondents said they would not welcome a Trump visit. The visit is also expected to attract protests, adding further complexity to the security operation.
Martin formally invited Trump during his St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington in March. Trump has visited Doonbeg several times since purchasing the resort in 2014.
