*Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Ireland. Photograph: Arthur Ellis
Traffic restrictions are to be “kept to a minimum” for the three day visit of US President, Donald Trump to Co Clare.
On Wednesday, Donald and Melania Trump will arrive in Shannon Airport, a bi-lateral meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will take place at Shannon. Additional security checks and Garda presence will be constant within the environs of Shannon Airport with no on street parking allowed in proximity to the Airport except in designated areas.
Passengers travelling to the airport are advised to allow extra travel time for the duration of the President’s visit, as additional security measures will be in place on the approach road to the airport and car parks until Friday. All visitors to the airport during the period are advised to have photo identification and intending passengers should have photo ID and valid flight documentation to hand.
A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána told The Clare Echo they are “engaging with a number of protest groups who wish to attend over the duration of this visit. Protests will be facilitated and every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the local community and patrons of Shannon Airport. It is anticipated that some protest activity will take place at the entrance to the Shannon Airport and An Garda Síochána will advise members of the public and patrons of the airport further when information is available”.
No significant disruption is expected in Shannon Town with business operating as normal there.
Access to Doonbeg village is not restricted and normal operations will continue. Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Ireland is closed to the public from Tuesday.
There will be restricted access for traffic along the N67, between Clonadrum Cross (north) and Doonbeg (south) from Monday evening. Southbound traffic is diverted along the R483 to Creagh and Cooraclare and into Kilrush. Northbound traffic from Kilrush is diverted on the R483 to Cooraclare, Creagh, Quilty and Miltown Malbay. Gardaí will be patrolling these diversion routes and a free flow of traffic will be maintained.
Access for local residents inside the N67 diversion route will continue, residents here have been issued with passes and are further advised to carry photo identifications and proof of address to assist with security checks where required.
Temporary rolling road closures are to be expected by the public to facilitate security and VIP escorts over the course of the visit on the M18, N18, N19, N85, N68, N67 also through Ennis and the environs of Limerick City.
According to the Garda spokesperson, they “are working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continues to be proportionate to the need to protect everyone’s safety. Our objective is to share as much information with the public as soon as we are in a position to do so”.
With State Examinations beginning on Wednesday, Gardaí on a local level have engaged with second level schools in the areas affected to give them advanced notification. Parents and students particularly in Doonbeg and Shannon are advised to give additional travel time to ensure that they can attend exam centres without difficulty.
“We would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their continuing co-operation. In general the public is advised to leave extra time for their journeys and to expect some localised delays. Gardaí will continue to liaise with business and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the visit”.
