Bush to stay at Dromoland, says NY Post

US President George Bush will stay at Dromoland Castle, Co Clare when he visits Ireland in June, it was reported today.

He is due to arrive from Washington late on June 25 for a two-hour EU/US summit and a working lunch the following day.

Details of the visit have been kept tightly under wraps to avoid major demonstrations.

But a columnist in today’s New York Post reports that plans are under way for the president to spend his fleeting visit to the Republic at Dromoland.

Built in the 16th century, Dromoland is one of Ireland’s grandest castle hotels and was once the royal seat of the O’Brien clan.

It was refurbished and transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962.

It will be Mr Bush’s first visit to the Republic as president. The agenda is expected to focus solely on the need to improve EU/US relations.

The Irish anti-war movement is planning huge anti-Bush protests in Dublin and at the summit venue during the event.

The US embassy in Dublin said the president’s itinerary had not yet been decided and a spokeswoman at Dromoland denied the reports.