‘Ceasefire’ poem gives pointed message to Donald Trump during Áras visit

President Catherine Connolly gave Donald Trump a carefully chosen gift as the pair met during his high-profile Dublin visit

President Connolly and US President Donald Trump at Áras an Uachtaráin. Picture: Tony Maxwell/Maxwells/PA Wire

While it was all smiles and laughter at Farmleigh on Saturday as US president Donald Trump flew into town, just a few minutes’ drive away in Áras an Uachtaráin, it was a more reserved affair.

The event was being keenly watched by eyes across the world, given Mr Trump’s previous potshot at the Irish President during the annual visit by the Taoiseach to Washington.

While Catherine Connolly had been clear during the election campaign that she would carry out the duties of the presidency, it was unclear what kind of welcome Mr Trump might receive.

But what unfolded in front of the world’s eyes appeared to be a cordial greeting between the two heads of state.

All the usual pomp and ceremony of a big visit was on show. Mr Trump was given the privilege of inspecting a Defence Forces guard of honour, with the troops drawn from the 28th Infantry Battalion at Finner Camp in Donegal.

Then came a brief chat with both the Irish and US delegations, with high-profile guests in attendance, including Mr Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr. 

Dignitaries such as US Ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh and Ireland’s Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason were also there to greet the two presidents.

The courtesy call between the two was brief, with a readout from the Irish side outlining that Ms Connolly spoke of Ireland’s “strong view” that war and genocide should not be normalised.

This was coupled with the less-than-subtle gift provided to Mr Trump by Ms Connolly: a volume of collected poems by Belfast-born Michael Longley.

It included the poem Ceasefire, described by the Áras as one of the “defining Irish poems about what it is to forgive”.

Hard to be much more pointed than that.