Protests planned as Donald Trump due to meet President Catherine Connolly during Irish visit
US president Donald Trump on the 15th green at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co. Clare, during his visit to Ireland in 2023. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA
US president Donald Trump is due to meet with President Catherine Connolly when he visits Ireland next week.
Mr Trump is due to arrive in Ireland next Saturday, September 12, with the US president expected to meet with senior Government figures and pay a courtesy call to Ms Connolly in Áras an Uachtaráin.
When Mr Trump arrives in Dublin, he will be greeted on the runway by a senior member of Government, with Tánaiste Simon Harris expected to carry out the welcome.
Sources have said Mr Trump’s visit to Dublin is expected to be focused on Phoenix Park, with the US president expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House.
It is understood the two leaders are likely to deliver a statement after their meeting.
Following the courtesy call at Áras an Uachtaráin and the meeting at Farmleigh House, Mr Trump is expected to visit Deerfield Residence, the official home of US Ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh.
Mr Trump is then expected to return to Dublin Airport before travelling to Shannon Airport, where he will attend his Doonbeg golf course in Clare for the Irish Open.
One Government source said preparations for the visit have gone into “overdrive”.
Protests have been scheduled in Dublin and Clare in opposition to Mr Trump’s visit to Ireland.
Further details of the president’s itinerary are expected to be confirmed ahead of the visit.
The Taoiseach said he has no concerns about President Connolly meeting with Mr Trump.
"President Connolly, she’s the head of State of Ireland. It’s appropriate and proper that the President would meet President Trump,” he said.
The Taoiseach said he did not want to be formally announcing any visit by Mr Trump to Ireland, as it was subject to the president's schedule.
"He did indicate that he would be anxious to get to the Irish Open in Doonbeg. We did say to him that we would like to have him at the Irish Open," Mr Martin said.
“The relationship between Ireland and the United States is very important economically. It’s very significant both ways, I have to add, in terms of Irish companies accessing the US market, creating jobs in the US market and exporting to the US market and vice versa.”
Mr Martin said he has made it clear about the importance of the Ireland-US relationship, saying it affects the "livelihoods of many, many people across the length and breadth of our country in a very real and substantive way".
Asked if he was concerned about the prospect of protests during Mr Trump's time in Ireland, the Taoiseach said people have a right to protest.
"That [protest] has occurred in previous times where presidents came, but I think what’s important also though is that they’re respectful and they respect the rights of others who participate in events," Mr Martin added.
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