US President Donald Trump is expected to visit Co Clare in June according to reports.
Political Editor of The Mail on Sunday, John Lee this morning revealed that American secret service agents are to travel to Clare later this week to assess security, accommodation and routes in the county ahead of an upcoming visit by Mr Trump. One such inspection to be carried out is to the journey from Doonbeg to both Ennis General Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.
Should the visit go ahead, President Trump will arrive at Shannon Airport on either June 6th or 7th following the 75th anniversary of D-Day in France. Prior to that he will be in the UK, becoming only the third American President to have been accorded a state visit by Queen Elizabeth.
The 72 year old has no plans to travel to Dublin and whilst in Ireland is most likely to only visit West Clare and his family’s Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg Ireland. He would not be the first President of the United States to visit just Clare while in Ireland, in 2004 President George W. Bush stayed at Dromoland Castle when attending the G20 Summit.
A spokesperson for the Irish Government said it has not had any indication the president is considering a visit to Ireland in June. However,they noted a long-standing invitation for him to come, and he has previously stated that he hopes to do so at some stage this year.
Speaking to The Clare Echo recently, General Manager of Trump International in Doonbeg, Joe Russell praised the continued development of the Trump family in West Clare. “Trump came in the door and has consistently year after year invested and improved this premises, whatever anybody thinks about Donald Trump working with the Trump organisation is a very positive experience and I have to say that, political views are political views the same with the Clintons, people disagreed with George Bush”.
