Presidential talks wedged into Trump’s golf appearance

Donald Trump’s Irish visit is being built around golf rather than ancestry. Much of his weekend is expected to unfold at the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, County Clare, where he is expected to present the trophy on Sunday.

The trip is personal rather than an official state visit, but it will still bring a major political and security operation to Dublin. Trump is expected to arrive on Saturday morning aboard the new Air Force One and be greeted by Tánaiste Simon Harris.

He is due to begin the Dublin part of the visit at Deerfield Residence, the US ambassador’s official home in Phoenix Park. Ambassador Edward Walsh, described as a driving force behind the trip, will host a function at the 250-year-old estate.

Trump will then travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Catherine Connolly before meeting the Taoiseach at Farmleigh House. While the official events unfold inside Phoenix Park, protesters are expected to march through nearby streets in a demonstration called “No Welcome For Trump.”

The coalition behind the protest includes groups from political parties, rights organisations and anti-war movements. Organisers say they will protest issues including Trump’s war in the Middle East and women’s rights, while also expressing solidarity with Americans.

Connolly herself previously opposed war and US use of Shannon Airport while serving as a TD, and she criticised Trump during last year’s campaign. “We have a president, Trump, who is volatile, unpredictable, acting like a bully, bringing in tariffs when it suits him,” she told RTÉ’s This Week. She nevertheless said she would meet him if the situation arose. The visit will therefore combine a high-profile golf event, tightly controlled official engagements and a sizeable protest outside the security perimeter.

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We have a president, Trump, who is volatile, unpredictable, acting like a bully, bringing in tariffs when it suits him