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US president expected to make an appearance at his golf resort for the Irish Open, avoiding protests along the way
US president expected to make an appearance at his golf resort for the Irish Open, avoiding protests along the wayUS president Donald Trump is expected to spend two days in Ireland in September.
File photograph: Kenny Holston/The New York TimesAnd while you may struggle to get anyone to confirm it, planning is well under way for what is euphemistically being called a “high-level visit” in official circles. It is widely anticipated that he will fly in for the weekend of the Irish Open golf tournament, which will be held at his Doonbeg resort inAfter weeks of rain I flew to Minneapolis and was greeted with intoxicating brightnessThe tournament is preceded by a practice day on Wednesday, September 9th, before starting in earnest the next day and concluding on Sunday, September 13th.
It is highly unlikely that Trump would miss the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, which falls on the Friday, so planning is taking place on the basis that he will arrive in Ireland on Saturday 12th and leave the following day. To the golf, obviously. But there is also a widespread expectation that he will visit Dublin.
Depending on who you talk to, he’ll either land intoon Saturday and visit Dublin on Sunday, or vice versa, with Air Force One shuttling him between the coasts. During theThe Coalition is probably breathing a quiet sigh of relief that the Dáil isn’t sitting, ruling out any chance of a Leinster House address.
There are many rumours and theories about the exact choreography of where he will go and when, with Government figures saying advance visits to scout locations and logistics are under way on the American side. But nothing, it seems, is set in stone yet – with a Government figure pithily dismissing anyone who claims otherwise as “talking bulls**t”. There is no indication as to whether Trump will pay a courtesy call to the Áras.
But if he is so inclined, President Catherine Connolly might find it difficult to avoid, having promised to uphold her duties in office and meet visiting heads of state – even ones she was harshly critical of in her previous life as a parliamentarian, such as Trump. Áras sources suggest she still holds this view, so it seems at this juncture that an awkward diplomatic spurning is unlikely.
This is a big challenge for the gardaí, who will be policing events on opposite sides of the country while co-ordinating with US security. This is happening while Ireland has the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which carries significant policing obligations. Garda unions say an “extraordinary event” has been declared, waylaying leave and mandating that overtime be taken. This comes on the back of a busy year for rank-and-file officers, with EU presidency events dotted across July.
Garda Representative Association deputy general secretary James Morrisroe says an “unprecedented strain” has been placed on his members.
“Serious accommodation issues and lack of detail regarding parading locations is also causing difficulties for our members,” he said. If Trump ends up travelling through the city, almost certainly. A big protest is planned, according to Sara O’Rourke of the Irish Neutrality League, which is co-ordinating with other activist organisations such as United Against Racism, Extinction Rebellion and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.
They plan to march from the Garden of Remembrance across the city and back to the GPO for speeches, music and demonstrations.
“We would love to march to wherever he is and do some shouting, but being realistic, we’re not going to get anywhere near him,” says O’Rourke. She added that demonstrators will march through the city “rather than trying to hare around trying to find out where he is”. With Trump, as ever, it is abundant. Everything he does and says brings an opportunity for blowback, so watch this space.
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