Inside Donald Trump’s itinerary for next week’s Irish visit, what government insiders are already saying about the meeting with arch critic President Connolly and what she actually thinks of him
The Irish government is finalising security and protocol arrangements for US President Donald Trump's visit to Dublin ahead of his trip to his Doonbeg resort in Co. Clare, where he will present the trophy at the conclusion of the Irish Open golf tournament on 13 September. A leaked internal briefing seen by the Irish Mail on Sunday outlines plans for Trump to meet both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly, a vocal critic of US foreign policy, during a packed schedule of high-level events before he departs Dublin by Marine One helicopter.
Trump is expected to land in Dublin on Friday 11 September, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and is due to break ground on the new US Embassy complex in Ballsbridge the following day, though this remains to be confirmed. He is likely to stay at the US Ambassador's residence in Phoenix Park, near Connolly's official residence, making a meeting between the pair logistically feasible despite their opposing political views. Security sources say arrangements for his arrival in Doonbeg, echoing his heavily guarded 2019 visit, are complicated by the remote rural location, the golf tournament, and heightened threat levels following recent assassination attempts against Trump, including the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting.
In short
- Trump to meet Taoiseach and President Connolly in Dublin before Doonbeg trip
- Visit includes 11 September embassy groundbreaking and Irish Open trophy presentation
- Security complicated by rural venue, golf event and post-assassination-attempt threat levels
Explained simply
Donald Trump is the president of the United States, while Micheál Martin is Ireland’s Taoiseach, or head of government. Catherine Connolly is Ireland’s president, a largely ceremonial role, and has publicly criticised aspects of US foreign policy.
A visit by a US president involves meetings with Irish leaders as well as security and diplomatic arrangements. Trump also owns a resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, which is hosting the Irish Open golf tournament.
The visit matters because it brings together leaders with differing political views and requires coordination across Dublin and a remote part of western Ireland. The planned schedule also falls around the anniversary of the 11 September attacks in the United States.
Culture Government Politics Travel World