Donald Trump touches down in Ireland amid ‘one of biggest’ policing operations

Key updatesEric Trump hails ‘family friend’ Rory McIlroy as he arrives in Doonbeg for Irish Open ahead of his fatherKeeping it in the family: Everything you need to know about Trump’s wives, children, siblings and parentsTaoiseach braced for high-stakes Oval Office-style encounter with Donald Trump 2 minutes agoGareth O’Connor

Air Force One at Dublin Airport as US President Donald Trump starts his visit to Ireland.

Air Force One after it landed at Dublin Airport for the start of US President Donald Trump trip to the Republic of Ireland. . Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA wire 6 minutes agoGareth O’Connor

Air Force One is now on the tarmac at Dublin Airport as the President prepares to emerge from the plane.

Air Force One ‘wheels down’ at Dublin Airport as US President Donald Trump starts his visit to Ireland. . Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA wire 10 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

Irish ministers set to greet US President Donald Trump at Dublin Airport

There is a so-called “greeting party” waiting to welcome the US president to Ireland once he disembarks Air Force One.

Tánaiste Simon Harris and Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee will meet Mr Trump shortly.

Maeve McTaggart 12 minutes agoGareth O’Connor

Donald Trump’s new Air Force One jet was a gift from Qatar

The new Boeing 747-8 jet was given to Trump by the Qatari government as an “unconditional gift”. The US military made modifications to the luxury jumbo jet, valued at $400m. The changes included upgrades to security and communications.

However the plane under scrutiny when it emerged the US President secretly switched planes before leaving Turkey in July because of an apparent security threat. The Washington Post reported that Trump was secretly transferred via a catering truck to a smaller Air Force jet after the White House scrapped a planned return flight on the new Qatari-gifted plane.

Gareth O’Connor 19 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

US President Donald Trump arrives in Dublin for two-day visit

Air Force One touched down on the tarmac at Dublin Airport shortly after 8.20am.

Maeve McTaggart 26 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

Stage set for Donald Trump at the American Ambassador’s Residence in the Phoenix Park

Sound checks have included the playing of some of Mr Trump’s favourite songs, including the Village People’s YMCA, and his traditional walk-out song God Bless The USA by Lee Greenwood. 30 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

Eric Trump hails ‘family friend’ Rory McIlroy as he arrives in Doonbeg for Irish Open ahead of his father

Eric Trump, the son of US president Donald Trump, has described Rory McIlroy as a “great ambassador” for his father’s hotel in Co Clare.

He was speaking on the second day of the Irish Open tournament at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, which saw Offaly golfer Lowry go 11 under par with nine birdies.

Confident for the weekend ahead, he said: “We are totally sold out. Literally, there is not another ticket to sell on this property Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

“You’ve got one of the greatest fields that’s ever played an Irish Open and Shane is on fire right now, and you see Rory [McIlroy] and the relationship there and how great he has been for the game right now around the world.”

Guests begin arriving at the residence of the US ambassador to Ireland ahead of Trump’s visit

Former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny are among hundreds of guests arriving at the residence of the US ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, ahead of the visit of US President Donald Trump.

Prominent business leaders, including Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary and entertainer Michael Flatley are also among those expected to attend this morning, as President Trump will make a speech in a marquee set up in the grounds of the historic property at Deerfield in Phoenix Park, which is decked out with American flags.

PA 39 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

There will be a sigh of relief when Trump takes off for Doonbeg, where golf will replace global affairs

There will be a whirlwind of diplomacy during Donald Trump’s one-stop-shop of the Phoenix Park in Dublin over the next few hours.

On the face of it, this is low risk compared to, for example, the White House meeting with Micheál Martin last March.

The US President is unlikely to be here for any major geopolitical strategic or policy objective. He is here for the golf.

He will most like want to escape the political pressures that are piling up back home, rather than walking back into more of them.

This all means that Micheál Martin will have an easier task than say, Emmanuel Macron or other EU leaders might if they were hosting him.

But Trump is, nonetheless, arriving in a European country at a time of ongoing tensions between the EU and the US over a range of issues from sporadic trade threats, to Nato defence spending, to the conflict in Iran and a fine imposed on Google.

There will also be issues raised with Trump that he might not necessarily be in the mood for hearing.

The Taoiseach, having met Volodymyr Zelensky, since his last meeting with Trump will press the EU’s position on Ukraine. He will also press the need for peace in Iran – although he has recently sided with the US in questioning whether Iran wanted peace.

Trump will also hold discussions with the Taoiseach just two days before the Occupied Territories Bill is signed into law, with the issue of Gaza expected to be raised by Mr Martin.

The meeting will take place in Farmleigh House – and a lot of the commentary will depend on whether questions are taken from the assembled Irish and US media.

Either way, there will be a sigh of relief when he takes off for Doonbeg, where golf will replace global affairs.

Mary Regan 54 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew

Keeping it in the family: Everything you need to know about Trump’s wives, children, siblings and parents

US president Donald Trump flies in to Dublin on Saturday to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly.

The billionaire’s visit to Ireland is set to be one of the biggest policing operations in Ireland.

But what do we know about his family?

Dublin Airport advises passengers travelling to the airport to allow extra time for their journey

Donald Trump will arrive at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning and depart later at lunchtime for Shannon Airport.

Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport at all times.

However, members of the public, travelling through Dublin Airport on the morning/early afternoon of Saturday, September 12, should allow additional time to arrive at the airport due to possible additional security patrols in the vicinity of Dublin Airport and expected temporary restrictions and rolling road closures on the M50 motorway.

Perimeter roads to Dublin Airport, R108, R132, Old Airport road are now subject to traffic restrictions at various times until after the departure of the 47th President of the United States of America during early afternoon on Saturday.

The highest impact of these restrictions will be between 8am and 9am and between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday. There is no parking on any of the perimeter roads to Dublin Airport today.

The Old Airport Road will be one way traffic only today travelling east towards R132 Swords Rd from 5am.

The South Runway viewpoint ‘The Mound’ in the Old Airport Road will remain open as a viewing point but for pedestrians only.

There will be no parking on the Old Airport Road.

Other Aircraft Viewing Stands on the perimeter roads of Dublin Airport will not be open to the public or parking of vehicles. Dublin Airport on Twitter / XPassenger Advice – Today Saturday 12th SeptDublin Airport advises passengers travelling to the airport this morning (Saturday) and early afternoon to allow extra time for their journey due to possible rolling road closures in the vicinity of the airport.To facilitate the… pic.twitter.com/GfPFCMlogB— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) September 12, 2026

x.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 06:40 AMSeoirse Mulgrew

Preparations underway at the US Ambassador’s residence in the Phoenix Park

Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.Picture Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.Today 06:31 AMSeoirse Mulgrew

Trump to attend number of engagement’s on first day of his Irish trip

The US White House Press Pool will be providing a detailed breakdown of US President Donald’s Trump visit to Ireland this week. In a post on X, it shared the schedule for Saturday which includes:

THE US PRESIDENT participates in an Arrival Ceremony
9:10 AM
Áras an Uachtaráin
Pre-Credentialed Media

THE US PRESIDENT participates in a Courtesy Call with the President of Ireland
9:20 AM
Áras an Uachtaráin
Closed Press

THE US PRESIDENT participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Taoiseach of Ireland
10:10 AM
Farmleigh House
Out-of-Town Travel Pool

THE US PRESIDENT delivers Remarks to U.S. Embassy Personnel and Business Leaders
11:35 AM
Deerfield Residence
Out-of-Town Travel PoolWhite House Press Pool Reports on Twitter / X✈️🏌️ Travel Note 1 – Greetings from JBAGood evening from a very humid Joint Base Andrews. I’ll be the print pooler for this quick trip across the pond with President Trump for meetings in Dublin and a visit to his golf course in Doonbeg for the Irish Open.The president will…— White House Press Pool Reports (@WHPressPool) September 12, 2026

x.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 06:22 AMSeoirse Mulgrew

Taoiseach braced for high-stakes Oval Office-style encounter with Donald Trump

The Taoiseach is prepared for a high-stakes and potentially wide-ranging bilateral meeting with American president Donald Trump, who is touching down in Dublin on Saturday for a whirlwind schedule of engagements that will test the enduring relationship between Ireland and the US.

Micheál Martin will host the meeting in Phoenix Park’s Farmleigh House. It will be similar in form to the annual St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House, with both men positioned on armchairs from which they will probably take questions from gathered media.

That is not the first hurdle of the day, either, with coalition figures largely in the dark over whether President Catherine Connolly will raise any of her previously aired concerns about Mr Trump and his policies.

Read more from Mary Regan and Maeve McTaggart here: Taoiseach braced for high-stakes Oval Office-style encounter with Donald TrumpUS president arrives in Dublin this weekend for two-day Irish tripwww.independent.ieToday 06:18 AMSeoirse Mulgrew

US President Donald Trump set to touch down in Ireland

Good morning and welcome to the Irish Independent’s live blog covering the visit of US President Donald Trump to Ireland.

He will touch down on Saturday morning amid what has been described as one of the biggest security operations ever implemented by gardaí.

Mr Trump will take part in engagements in Dublin as well as at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, which is hosting the Irish Open.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he looks forward to welcoming Mr Trump to Ireland and “discussing the many issues of mutual interest and reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Ireland and the United States”.
“His visit comes during a remarkable sporting summer for Ireland, and the United States and this weekend’s Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg will be a fitting conclusion to an outstanding season of sport, and I hope we will see an Irish winner lifting the trophy on Sunday,” he added.

He is expected to meet President Catherine Connolly, a long-standing critic of the US president, at her official residence Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, before a nearby engagement with Mr Martin, the Taoiseach at the Farmleigh Estate.
He will also attend a series of events at Deerfield, the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland.

A number of protests against Mr Trump’s visit have been planned.TickarooLive Blog Software