This article explores Trump International Doonbeg, the luxury resort owned by former US President Donald Trump, located in the picturesque coastal town of Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland. It provides insights into the resort's history, amenities, staff, and the impact it has on the local community.
Who is the only American President to own property in Ireland? Clue: it’s not John F Kennedy. Is it Ronald Reagan? Joe Biden? No - none of these famed presidential sons of Erin invested their own money here. In fact, it’s Donald J Trump, who owns a luxury hotel on the Atlantic coast in Doonbeg, Co Clare. Barack Obama had a truckstop built in his honour. JFK had his homestead in New Ross. Reagan had a visitor centre in Ballyporeen that closed due to lack of interest.
Trump International Doonbeg is the nearest thing to a monument in honour of the most controversial US President ever, who will be inaugurated on Monday. Trump bought the five-star hotel and golf links in Doonbeg for a steal in 2014. At €10 million, he acquired a Greg Norman-designed golf club and hotel, which was built in 2002. Trump invested millions more into it and it’s paid off. Between memberships, occupancy and events, the resort earned over €17 million in 2023. It’s estimated the resort will earn a further €140 million when its owner is back in the White House. I’m a Trump fan, much to the horror of my liberal Irish friends. But I’m also a US citizen and an entertainer, so I admire him on a different level. With my band the Camembert Quartet, I've played Trump Doonbeg many times - we played Glenda Gilson’s wedding there. But I’ve never stayed there. At the invitation of Director of Sales and Marketing Evan Butler, I got to experience Trump Ireland for myself. I had a pint in his bar, got a golf lesson from his pro, and likely stayed in a suite he has stayed in. My lesson was with Brian Shaw, Trump’s personal golf pro in Ireland and the hotel and links’ head golf professional. He gave me a tour of the course, re-designed by course architect Martin Hawtree. We discussed many things - including ‘The Donald’. Shaw has been here over 20 years and is a fixture of the golf community worldwide. He’s played golf with Trump many times – and he agrees with Rory McIlroy that Trump’s a better golfer than Obama and Bill Clinton combined. As well as giving me a tour of the impressive course beside Doughmore Bay, he showed me Trump’s clubs sitting in the gift shop, awaiting his next visit. The gift shop is probably the only place in Ireland you can buy a MAGA hat. I’m told the signature red versions sell out as soon as they come in. The shop sold 5,000 caps in 2023. Shaw told how, when dealing with course-designer Martin Hawtree, Trump suggested many things to which the English gent said: “Yes, Mr. Trump.” Trump turned to Shaw afterwards and said “when Martin says ‘yes’, he means no, right?” Eric Trump is the most regular visitor, having the most interest in the resort element of the Trump empire. The resort encourages younger people to play, with their own specific golfing area. But membership does not come cheap – an upfront €25,000 to join and a further €6,000 a year after that. In Doonbeg, with a population of 784, Trump Ireland employs 305 people. The breakdown of visitors is 52 per cent American and roughly 40 per cent Irish. I checked out Trump’s Bar and Restaurant, which is the President’s favourite spot. I also hung out in the Members’ Bar in the main house, where I met a couple from Cork who love visiting. What they most enjoyed was what they called ‘the American level of service’. The food and service were exceptional, from lunchtime chowder to the dinner tasting menu. I stayed in a suite the size of a home in the main building – a Scots Baronial castle built from scratch in the early 2000s. It was a room fit for a president, and no doubt Trump and Melania stayed there when they visited in 2019. Unlike many buildings of the era, the proportions and fit-out makes you feel like you are staying in a great house of the 19th century. Though a five-star, it’s affordable for two, with guest rooms from €327, the links’ cottages for €412, suites at €523 and ocean view suites at €693. A shuttle-service brings guests to and from Doonbeg village, to ensure local business benefits. An incredible breakfast, spa treatment and beach walk sealed the deal. The hotel cat Missy was peacefully curled up at the entrance as I left. For the next four years, here’s hoping the world is as peaceful and well-run as Trump Doonbeg
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