Trump due to arrive in Ireland as major security operation under way

Donald Trump is set to land in Ireland this morning amid what's being described as one of the biggest security operations ever implemented by the country's police.

The US president will take part in engagements in Dublin and at his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, which is hosting the Irish Open, as part of a two-day visit to the country.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he is looking forward to welcoming Mr Trump and "discussing the many issues of mutual interest and reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Ireland and the United States".

"His visit comes during a remarkable sporting summer for Ireland, and the United States and this weekend's Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg will be a fitting conclusion to an outstanding season of sport, and I hope we will see an Irish winner lifting the trophy on Sunday," he added.

Among his engagements, Mr Trump will attend a series of events at Deerfield, the residence of the US ambassador to Ireland, and is also expected to meet with Irish counterpart Catherine Connolly at her official residence before meeting with Mr Martin at the Farmleigh Estate.

Ms Connolly is a long-term critic of her US counterpart and has attended protests against him.

But Eric Trump, the US president's son, told Sky News he expects both leaders to be "incredibly graceful" during the meeting.

A number of protests against Mr Trump's visit have also been planned during the visit, including in Dublin, Doonbeg and Shannon Airport.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly says peaceful protest would be facilitated as much as possible, but adds that there will be "no tolerance" for public disorder or attempts to impact "critical movements" of the US president.

"We have robust policing plans in place and will arrest and prosecute those committing offences," he said.

The planned protests come after a poll earlier this week showed 70% of Irish people do not want the US president visiting.

Eric Trump told Sky News he finds the poll "hard to believe", given the "amazing" relationship with the US.

"If you look at the Irish population in the United States, they love Donald Trump. They absolutely adore Donald Trump and the job that he's done.

"If you look at Doonbeg, everybody realises what we did coming in here, spending hundreds of millions of dollars. We saved one of the great assets of Ireland, and they're thankful for it.

"I have not yet met a person who wasn't kind, wasn't gracious, who wasn't thankful for everything that we've done for the country, who wasn't beautifully warm."

Some County Clare residents have recognised his importance to the local economy, even if they didn't agree with him politically.

Vicky Nolan, who lives near Kilkee, said: "I hate the fact that he's here, but I do understand that the people from Doonbeg rely on him for their livelihoods. However, I won't be going near the place, and I would hope that no one else would be."

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County Clare resident Michael Moore said politically he has "no time" for Mr Trump, but said he knows a number of people in Doonbeg who have the "utmost respect for him for what he's done for that village", adding that he's "entitled to come and visit" his property.

Mr Moore said the government "have to play ball" with Mr Trump even if "he doesn't play ball with us", adding that they "shouldn't be getting too much upset about politics".

Mr Trump's visit is expected to cause significant disruption and road closures around Dublin Airport and across the city, as well as in County Clare and Shannon Airport.

(c) Sky News 2026: Trump due to arrive in Ireland as major security operation under way