*Photograph: Arthur Ellis
DONALD TRUMP has landed in Doonbeg for a two day visit.
On Wednesday evening after 6:30pm, the former US President arrived in Shannon Airport on the family’s private jet known as Trump Force One. He was whisked from Shannon to Doonbeg with a Garda escort with the cavalcade consisting of in the region of twenty cars.
In what is a much more scaled back version of his 2019 visit when he was then residing in the White House, Trump is expected to partake in a round of golf at his five star Doonbeg resort on Thursday.
Taking to Truth Social, the social media platform he owns, Trump said that his resorts in Scotland and Ireland were among the greatest in the world.
Since 2014, the Trump family have owned the property in West Clare which has an eighteen hole links course which stretches across 400 acres, acquiring it for €15m. The Trump family have spent about €40m including the purchase price, on expanding and upgrading facilities.
For his first visit almost a decade ago, a red carpet was rolled out in Shannon Airport when musicians in red dresses played the harp and former Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan (FG) greeted the multi-millionaire. Speaking this week, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) criticised the 2014 reception, describing the “fanfare” as a bit “stage Irish”.
There was no red carpet or welcome from any Government Minister when the seventy four year old arrived in Shannon on Wednesday. He had spent the previous two days visiting golf resorts Turnberry and Menie.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) confirmed to The Clare Echo that the West Clare MD received no invite to welcome Trump to West Clare.
In his native US, Trump is facing multiple investigations. The visit comes off the back of the successful visit of US President Joe Biden to Louth and Mayo.
While in Doonbeg, Donald is to meet business clients, hotel staff and play a round of golf before returning Stateside. Trump supporters have travelled from Dublin and Mayo to get a glimpse of him at both Shannon and Doonbeg.
A significant security detail has travelled with the former President. Screening and security sweeps were conducted prior to his arrival, this involved checking for explosives and firearms around the environs of Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg Ireland.
Bodies of water and Doonbeg’s sewerage system have also been searched by the Garda Water Unit. Specialist Garda units involved for the two-day trip include the Special Detective Unit and Emergency Response Unit. The additional presence of Gardaí in the area is ironic as West Clare has been without a Superintendent since the end of February.
Access to the hotel had not been blocked off prior to his arrival but checkpoints have popped up on roads to Doonbeg.
