Key updates‘A geopolitical bombshell’ – How the world’s media reported on Donald Trump’s visit to IrelandBREAKING: Gerry Adams says Trump’s support for Irish reunification is ‘welcome’Eilis O’Hanlon: Nobody saw these united Ireland remarks coming — probably not even Trump himself‘Not accidental’: Donald Trump raised his views on Irish unity in private with leaders before controversial commentsToday 05:53 PMEva Marie Gibney
Trump promises to remove tariffs on Irish whiskey in prize-giving speech
US president Donald Trump has said he will remove tariffs from Irish whiskey during his prize giving speech at the Amgen Irish Open at his Doonbeg resort in Co Clare.
Crowds cheered Donald Trump and chanted “USA” as he told them he was removing tariffs from Irish whiskey.
He said he had discussed the matter with Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
He said: “Everybody’s been bugging me.
“They are saying would you do me a favour? It’s so unfair what’s going on.
“Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey and I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey.”
PAUS president Donald Trump makes announcement during prize-giving ceremony. Ramsey Cardy/SportsfileUS president Donald Trump makes announcement during prize-giving ceremony. Ramsey Cardy/SportsfileShane Lowry is presented with the trophy by Donald TrumpShane Lowry is presented with the trophy by Donald Trump 10 minutes agoEva Marie GibneyTánaiste Simon Harris said it was “a welcome announcement of economic significance from President Trump…that reflects the very positive engagement we’ve had with the US administration on tariffs over the 18 months”.
“Irish whiskey is a world-renowned product, supporting jobs and communities right across Ireland. Our producers deserve certainty and stability as they continue to grow their businesses and compete in markets around the world. “This announcement coupled with the very significant and positive tourism exposure generated in recent days for our country has made this a consequential visit and a reminder of the importance of the economic relationship between Ireland and the US.”
x.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 23 minutes agoEva Marie Gibney
Whiskey Association welcomes Trump pledge to lift tariffs on €450m Irish whiskey exports
The Irish Whiskey Association said it “heartily welcomes” the announcement, stating: “We will continue to work with our EU and US counterparts to secure a return to the zero-for-zero arrangement for all drinks exports.”
It said that Irish whiskey exports to the US were worth €450m last year and Irish distillers spent a further €80m on American casks, which underline the scale of the trade now set to benefit from president Donald Trump’s pledge to remove US tariffs.
“The IWA would like to thank all those who advocated tirelessly for our sector, in Dublin, Brussels, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere and look forward to seeing this announcement fully implemented.”
Deirdre Barry
25 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew
Donald Trump leaves Ireland after two-day trip
US President Donald Trump has departed Shannon Airport aboard Air Force One to bring an end to his two-day visit to Ireland.
Mr Trump travelled to the airport by helicopter from Doonbeg after watching the final round of his Irish Open. He posed for photographs with his family before boarding the plane just after 8pm to take him back to Washington.
PA 39 minutes agoSeoirse Mulgrew
‘Everybody’s been bugging me’ – Trump says he’ll lift tariffs on Irish whiskey during prize-giving speech
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=dJZJVZWZRyUmagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 46 minutes agoEva Marie Gibney
‘That must be worth a few quid’ – Lowry jokes distillers should send him a cheque after Trump’s tariff announcement
Irish Open winner Shane Lowry joked that Irish distillers should send him a cheque after US president Donald Trump’s tariff announcement.
Lowry told reporters at a post-tournament press conference: “He said he’s taking the tariffs off Irish whiskey – which Irish distillers better be sending me a cheque soon, that must be worth a few quid with them.
“There was a big dinner last night, and I was there and, and we had a talk, but he didn’t tell me that he had changed his plans for me.”
PA
Shane Lowry celebrates with the trophy after winning the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship . Brendan Moran/SportsfileToday 04:07 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
Micheál Martin says there has been a ‘over-reaction’ to Trump’s comments over Irish unity
The Taoiseach was asked about criticism of Mr Trump’s remarks from unionists and some UK politicians.
“I think some of the reaction is an overreaction. It shouldn’t be a surprise he takes a different sort of perspective on things, we know that,” he said.
“Certainly he is viewing it, from my conversations with him over lunch, he is looking at it from a perspective of looking in on the island of Ireland and logically saying it seems inevitable it should be unified.
“That is his consistent view, he believes that and people are entitled to have a view and an opinion.”
PAToday 04:03 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
Micheál Martin says he focused on ‘accelerating and getting more aid’ into Gaza during meeting with Donald Trump
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=XyZJFPWbYbcGagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 03:46 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
US President Donald Trump addresses other global issues while in Doonbeg
President Trump told reporters the US was “leading China in AI” when asked about concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence tools.
Asked about tech leaders voicing their own concerns, President Trump said there were “very negative forces” who were “bringing up things that won’t happen.”
Mr. Trump also told reporters in Doonbeg that he wanted Ukraine to “stop knocking out diesel fuel in Russia”.
The US President said the attacks were causing a fuel shortage that was “hurting the world”.
Gareth O’Connor SOURCE: Reuters Today 03:44 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
Micheál Martin says Donald Trump believes Irish unity is the ‘logical way for the island to be configured and organised’
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=a4IBfJ0LvPQiagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 03:43 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
Taoiseach has lunch with President Trump at Doonbeg
Micheál Martin met with US President Donald Trump again at Doonbeg for lunch and discussed the resort, the Irish Open, the performance of Shane Lowry, and investment in the area.
The Taoiseach’s wife Mary also attended the lunch.
It was not an official or political meeting.
Mary ReganToday 03:30 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
‘It was very interesting to hear Trump call for a United Ireland’ – Sinn Féin TDs arrives at Doonbeg protests to stand against American foreign policy
Sinn Féin representatives for the Mid West and Ireland South regions arrived at the protests in Doonbeg village to stand against American foreign policy, they said.
Clare TD Donna McGettigan, Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan, and Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, joined a growing group of protestors on Doonbeg’s Main Street.
“We thought it was really important to show support to the protesters, the people who have made the effort, particularly in Doonbeg and in the county of Clare where Trump is actually visiting,” MEP Funchion told the Irish Independent.
“But I do think it’s really important to stress that it’s the foreign policy of Trump and his administration that we have a difficulty with. You know, I understand that there’s a positive element for Doonbeg in having the Irish Open here and the business and all of that.
“So, this is very much about the policy that they’re pursuing, the genocide that we see at the moment in Palestine, also the conflict in Iran. And I think, you know, our first thoughts are always with anyone caught up in conflict and how horrific that must be.”
The Ireland South MEP emphasised that the conflicts America is involved with has a “knock-on effect”.
“It’s not totally alien to us here in Ireland,” MEP Funchion said. “We’re seeing petrol prices rise, we’re seeing home heating oil now as we come into the winter rise.
“So, it’s important that we’re highlighting this stuff to our own government, that people are unhappy, and then I suppose in turn trying to put pressure on them to highlight these kinds of issues to Trump and his administration.”
The Kilkenny native said it is “great” to see so many people protesting in Doonbeg.
“It’s lovely to come out in solidarity because I think for all of us that feel so angry about the Palestinian situation, you can get very hopeless, and I think it’s important we get support from each other as well at events like this,” she said.
“It’s been such a lovely cordial, positive vibe coming from the protest and everyone seems to be interacting really well with the gardaí as well – I think that’s a sign of a really successful event too.”
Speaking about President Trump’s call for Irish Unity during Saturday’s meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, MEP Funchion said: “It was very interesting to hear Trump call for a United Ireland.
“I do think though, when we look at the history of America and the role that they’ve played in the Good Friday Agreement, the peace process, there are really strong links between Ireland and America, but particularly around Irish unity and in the aftermath of Brexit.
“I was a TD at the time when Nancy Pelosi addressed the Dáil, and she said that the US wouldn’t be doing trade if there was a return to the hard border. We’ve always had that good support, so we’re not surprised.
“And in that regard, maybe people weren’t expecting him to get into that issue – I suppose the nature of his personality is you’re never really sure what exactly he’s going to raise. But certainly, we welcome anyone that’s talking about unity; it’s certainly a lot more on the agenda as a result of Brexit, I think.
“We saw the fleadh taking place in Belfast and all the positivity around that – people probably would have thought 10 or 20 years ago that we would never see a situation like that. But while it’s welcome, I don’t think we can take away from all of the other horrific stuff that the Trump administration is pursuing.”
Reacting to protest organiser and community worker Sarah Clancy’s comments yesterday, where she said it is a “pity” that there is no “decent sustainable rural development” in Doonbeg, MEP Funchion said she is glad someone has taken the opportunity to highlight the issue.
“One of the committees that I’m on in the European Parliament is in relation to regional development, and I’m from the South-East, an area that can be underdeveloped,” she said.
“Maybe on paper sounds like everything is going well, but certainly I know lots of areas feel left behind. So, I actually fully understand that, and we need balanced regional development.
“We need Shannon Airport to be one of our main airports and not everyone funnelled into Dublin. So, I think that’s a really important thing, but I don’t think it’s actually the business of the golf resort or anything that’s the issue. It’s the policies that is being pursued by his administration, but certainly in terms of regional development it would be great.
“I’m from a small town myself in Kilkenny, which is very similar to Clare in our reliance on tourism, so [it is an] important issue. It would be great if we could finally see a balanced regional development, because it would mean so much as well around the climate, as well, if people were able to access buses, trains.
“So definitely, it’s a good thing actually that someone has highlighted during all of this as well, because it’s important to take the opportunity to highlight the issues to our government.”
Molly Cantwell and Erika Sassone A protester in DoonbegBreda Henderson, from West Limerick, who has been involved with Palestine protests for nearly 45 years, Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, Clare TD Donna McGettigan and Limerick TD Maurice QuinlivanToday 03:28 PMEva Marie Gibney
‘Golf Force One’
Check out Donald Trump’s heavily-armoured golf buggy, nicknamed “Golf Force One”.
The vehicle, which is purpose‑built with ballistic protection, isn’t like any standard resort cart with reinforced panels and the bulked‑up frame.
It’s essentially a mini motorcade on four tiny wheels, designed to follow Trump around the fairways.
Its appearance follows an assassination attempt on Trump while he was playing golf at his Florida course in 2024.
Donald Trump’s Golf Force One . Mark CondrenDonald Trump’s Golf Force One . Mark CondrenToday 03:12 PMSeoirse Mulgrew
Donald Trump doubles down on Irish unity remarks
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=orYIb7EJgL0Gagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 03:02 PMEva Marie Gibney
DUP MP hits back at Trump’s Irish unity comments as having “no real meaning”
The DUP’s Sammy Wilson has hit back at Donald Trump’s comments welcoming Irish unity, claiming they don’t have “any real meaning at all”.
The MP said those who speak out on border issues here should “at least be informed what you’re talking about”.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Wilson shrugged off his remarks and said it was “just Trump being Trump” and pointed to the possibility that they were a “calculated” shot at the UK government.
The East Antrim MP said: “Is he appealing the Irish-American vote? Or is it just part of his general discontent with the government here at Westminster?
“Last week it was the Falklands he wanted taken back off Britain, now he’s at Northern Ireland, and, you know, this is just Trump being Trump; ‘I’ve fallen out with you, so I’ll think of all the nasty things I can say about you, and the ways in which I can annoy you’.”
Mr Wilson highlighted that commentary by the US president has sparked other geopolitical rows.
“Even if I’d like there to be, Ireland to be unified or whatever, I mean, you’d like Greenland to be part of America, but that’s not going to happen.
And he wanted Canada to be part of America, and that’s not going happen either. So just the fact he says he would like this to happen doesn’t have any real meaning at all, does it?”
He said his party will continue to raise the case for unionism to Mr Trump and US politicians.
He continued: “I don’t think it’s Americans that we have to persuade on the advantage of the Union. It’s people who live here in Northern Ireland who we have to persuade, and we seek to do that continually.
“But I suppose it’s always good to remind Americans that you’re interfering in something which you know little about.
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