Key updatesFionnán Sheahan: Make Ireland Great Again – Trump’s new orange order stumps Micheál and Mary Lou – and annoys the hell out of the BritsDonald Trump in ‘flying form’ as he dines with Rory McIlroy and watches a Shane Lowry masterclass at DoonbegKevin Doyle: Who could have predicted Donald Trump’s visit would turn into a triumph for everybody involved?Micheál Martin moves to cool tensions on united Ireland ahead of Manchester talks with Andy Burnham‘Vicious bastards’, birthday cake and a united Ireland: Key moments of Donald Trump’s trip to Ireland‘A geopolitical bombshell’ – How the world’s media reported on Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland 14 minutes agoAmy Blaney
Trump comments on Irish unity show debate is ‘very much alive’: Michelle O’Neill
Donald Trump’s comments in support of Irish unity show that the debate is “very much alive”, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said.
Ms O’Neill was speaking at a joint press conference with the leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru where they jointly declared that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end” in an agreement aimed at putting pressure on Downing Street to hold referendums on independence.
The first ministers of the UK’s three devolved nations – SNP leader John Swinney, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and Sinn Féin vice president Ms O’Neill – signed the memorandum of understanding during a meeting in Cardiff on Monday morning.
Along with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, who is the leader of the opposition in the Irish Dáil, the leaders called on the Government to “prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change”.
The group, who met in their capacity as party leaders – rather than as officials in their respective governments – also stated their ambitions for partnership around the economy, energy and international co-operation.
US president Mr Trump put the future of the regions of the UK in the spotlight when he made repeated remarks in favour of Irish unity during a visit to Ireland at the weekend.
In response to a question from the Press Association, he said he “would love to see” Ireland unified, adding: “It’s going to happen eventually.”
Mr Trump declined to comment on Scottish independence.
Asked about the US president’s remarks, Ms O’Neill said: “I think the comments from the president of the United States very much reflect the fact that the unity debate is very much alive, and people are engaged in it, not just at home, but obviously now internationally as well.
“I think that tells us where we’re at with where the thinking is around: what is the big prize here for our people? And the big prize here is unification.
“It is the end of partition and it is that new beginning in a new Ireland.
“I think the comments that we’ve seen over the weekend very much reflect that there is a chorus now of people that are engaged in this debate.”
Ms O’Neill is the joint head of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing administration with the DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly.
Ms Little-Pengelly has accused Ms O’Neill of “weaponising” the role of First Minister by signing the joint memorandum.
Ms O’Neill responded: “I am First Minister in the north of Ireland.
“This is about historic change happening all around us.”
SNP leader John Swinney said Scots must be able to express their view on whether to remain in the UK.
The Scottish First Minister said recent polling showed a majority in favour of breaking away from the union while the recent Holyrood election returned a majority of pro-independence MSPs.
But he said the country had faced “obstruction” from the UK Government, which has repeatedly rejected SNP calls for another referendum.
“The people of Scotland are entitled to decide their own future,” he told the press conference.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the joint agreement was about “ensuring a better future for the people that we represent”.
He said there is a “determination that it was for our people to decide” their futures.
The joint agreement signed by the three parties says: “The political landscape across these islands is changing.
“For the first time ever, people across these islands have first ministers in Scotland, in Wales and in the North of Ireland who are all committed to independence from the United Kingdom.
“For people watching across these islands – for people watching around the world – there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is coming to an end.
“We believe there is a better way: nations working together as equals, sharing ideas and expertise, and building relationships based on mutual respect and common interests.
“Momentum is behind our movements; we believe that constitutional change is coming.
“We therefore commit to strengthening cooperation between our parties and identifying practical areas where working together can make a real difference.”
The agreement sets out plans to “reject Whitehall’s broken economic model” and share ideas on economic growth, expand energy resources, and states that “the future of our nations belongs in the European Union”.
The leaders add: “Our nations have the right to self-determination. No Westminster government has the right to block democracy or undermine the principle that our people will decide their own future.
“We recognise that our parties have different constitutional positions and that each nation will determine its own future in its own way and in its own time.
“We call for the British Government to prepare for, plan and facilitate constitutional change in each jurisdiction.”
PAToday 10:04 AMAmy Blaney
‘We’re very pleased’ – Micheál Martin says Donald Trump visit ‘went well’
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said “we’re very pleased with the way the weekend went” following US president Donald Trump’s visit.
Mr Martin said both his meeting with Mr Trump at Farmleigh and the meeting with President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin “went well” and there was “good engagement” with the US president over the course of the weekend.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with David McCullagh, the Taoiseach said Mr Trump’s support of a united Ireland should come as “no surprise” to unionists, as he accused unionist politicians of “overreacting” to the US president’s remarks.
Mr Trump described Irish unity as “one of the naturals of all time”.
His comments attracted criticism from unionists, with Northern Ireland’s deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly saying the US president is known for his “undiplomatic interventions”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr Trump has previously raised the matter with him on whether there will be a “merger” between both jurisdictions.
Mr Martin said: “I think there was an overreaction from the unionists, some unionist politicians, in terms of some of the language that was used.
“Using language like that a united Ireland would bring about the destruction of Northern Ireland, I wouldn’t agree with (DUP leader) Gavin Robinson on that.
“It should be no surprise to them because last year; any time I spoke to President Trump about Northern Ireland, he does ask the question: Do you think there will be a merger any time soon?
“I said to him at some stage. I support Irish unity, but I do indicate to him then that there was the whole peace process that led to the Good Friday Agreement, that that idea of working with the British Government in lockstep was the underpinning of that agreement, is necessary in terms of the next stages and so on.”
Responding to Mr Trump’s belief that he is “the right man” to get reunification done, Mr
Martin said the process will take more than one individual.
Adding that he wants a version of Irish unity “that works”, the Taoiseach said that will require hard work, and he is not interested in “simplistic rhetoric” on the issue.
The Taoiseach said he raised tariffs on Irish whiskey with President Trump during his visit over the weekend.In advance of their meeting, Mr Martin said he highlighted that Irish whiskey had a 10pc tariff placed on it by the US while Scotch whiskey from Scotland was kept free from tariffs.While the subject of whiskey was broached a number of times over the weekend, he told RTÉ Radio 1 “the big issues” discussed included economic ties between Ireland and the US, and the Middle East.“The big issues we discussed at the meeting, obviously the economic relationship, but also, we did discuss the Middle East, we did discuss Palestine, and I wanted to focus in on, and I did, on his own peace plan, which he did initiate.“And I spoke to people like [United Nations official] Tom Fletcher and others from the UN some time back.“They were quite hopeful of the application in the initial stages by the US military in Israel and that compound that they established to try and get things moving.“But that has stalled, that peace plan, and our sense is that, when I spoke to the Palestinian Authority, they want more aid, they want more shelter, the basics in terms of education facilities and so on for children in Gaza.“So, I said we need to get more aid in there, and then he [Mr Trump] said, look, okay, anything you’re doing, just let me know and we’ll try and bring down the barriers.”
Darragh NolanToday 08:49 AMAmy Blaney
Mary Lou McDonald welcomes Trump’s call for reunification
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has described Donald Trump’s calls for reunification as “welcome”, but not “hugely unanticipated”.
She was speaking from Cardiff, where she, along with First Minister Michelle O’Neill and the leaders of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party, are set to sign a joint agreement calling for independence referendums in Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
Ms McDonald told RTÉ Radio 1’s Today with David McCullagh that she hopes the US adopts an approach “for peace building” in Palestine similar to the one pursued during the peace process in Ireland.
She said it is her hope that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was “listening” to Mr Trump’s remarks, as well as domestic calls for reunification.
“Whoever the serving Taoiseach is, has an absolute duty and obligation to take care of the interests of Ireland.
“And at the core of that, is what our country can be like, should be like, will be like, five years from now, 10 years from now, a generation on.
“And for anybody in high political office to almost claim bragging rights on the fact that they will not countenance constitutional change and all of the work that is now preparatory work that requires, that’s not a good place to be.”
Ms McDonald said it is welcome when “any senior political figure” makes a statement like that made by Mr Trump, she called for the Taoiseach to “catch up” on reunification.
“The Tánaiste has a more advanced position on these matters, and Micheál Martin, quite frankly, needs to catch up because this is a serious matter.
“We need to get this right. We need to be orderly, prepared. This transition from a partition to united Ireland has to be absolutely peaceful, it has to be democratic, it has to include all shades of opinion from all across the spectrum, right across our island, including voices from unionism and loyalism.
“And that’s not just going to happen by chance. The Government in Dublin needs to be very front footed from here on in, shaping and clearing the space for that democratic conversation.”
Darragh Nolan
Today 08:22 AMAmy Blaney
Fionnán Sheahan: Make Ireland Great Again – Trump’s new orange order stumps Micheál and Mary Lou – and annoys the hell out of the Brits
‘It’s a great achievement’ – Irish whiskey industry reacts to lifting of tariffs
The announcement of the removal of US tariffs on Irish whiskey has been welcomed by the director of the Irish Whiskey Association.
Eoin Ó Catháin told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland the US is the biggest and most important market for Irish whiskey, and this move puts exporters on this side of the border back on an even footing with those in the North, where there is already a 0pc tariff on whiskey.
“It’s a great achievement and it’s a big boost, a vote of confidence, I think, in Irish whiskey that we have the tariff now removed.
“We’re looking forward to seeing that fully implemented, but what we need to see now is that that’s extended to all Irish drinks exports and that we’ll return to a zero for zero for everyone, because that is really what makes sense.
“That has brought us so much success, and that is what will copper fasten success in future.”
Mr Ó Catháin said there has been “uncertainty” in the Irish whiskey market since April of last year, when a 15pc tariff was brought in, before being reduced to 10pc.
He said Irish whiskey sales in the US dropped by between 8 and 9pc last year, with the tariffs playing a role in that decline, while exports to the US were down 20pc in the first half of this year.
Darragh NolanToday 08:00 AMAmy BlaneyPictures: Shane Lowry receives the 2026 Amgen Irish Open Trophy from US President Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg. Picture: Mark CondrenToday 07:55 AMAmy BlaneyUS President Donald Trump continued to speak to reporters on board Air Force One about world issues as he made his way home from Ireland.
He brushed aside a recent Wall Street Journal report that Iran acquired satellite images of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack that killed three US troops there in July.
Asked whether he would mention the issue at an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump did not directly answer and instead equated the surveillance activities of China and the United States.
“They basically do what we do,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “When they say China spies on us, I say you’re right and we spy on them too.”
The Chinese and US presidents are expected to meet in the United States on September 24, although China has yet to officially confirm that the meeting will take place.
ReutersToday 07:47 AMAmy Blaney
‘It doesn’t bring a referendum any closer,’ says former Ambassador to the US
Former Ambassador of Ireland to the US Dan Mulhall has hailed Donald Trump’s visit as a “job well done” that has seen the Taoiseach’s relationship with Mr Trump “strengthened”.
Mr Mulhall said there will be “huge relief” following the visit given the US president did not target US investment in Ireland or the Occupied Territories Bill.
With the announcement of the removal of tariffs on Irish whiskey, he told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland it was “good news all around”.
On Mr Trump’s united Ireland remarks, Mr Mulhall said the US president is “not your conventional, orthodox politician”.
“He’s broken all the rules over the last 10 years since he entered the political arena, and he’s the kind of politician who just says what’s in his mind, and that’s for good or ill.”
He said Mr Trump’s thoughts on reunification reflect “how a lot of Americans view” the issue.
While the statements from Mr Trump were “interesting”, Mr Mulhall said “it doesn’t really change anything in Northern Ireland”.
“It doesn’t bring a referendum any closer, it doesn’t bring Irish unity any closer.
“But what it does mean is that there probably is a wellspring of support for Irish unity, and I came across this when I was in America, just meeting people that you wouldn’t expect to have that kind of attitude, have it.”
Darragh Nolan
Today 07:16 AMDenise Calnan
Donald Trump in ‘flying form’ as he dines with Rory McIlroy and watches a Shane Lowry masterclass at Doonbeg
US president in charm mode as he puts politics aside and enjoys a real-life fairytale script play out on his course, Niamh Horan writes
Read the full piece here:
Donald Trump in ‘flying form’ as he dines with Rory McIlroy and watches a Shane Lowry masterclass at DoonbegUS president in charm mode as he puts politics aside and enjoys a real-life fairytale script play out on his coursewww.independent.ieToday 07:01 AM
Sinn Féin senator Conor Murphy: ‘We don’t want to stumble into another Brexit-type scenario’
US president Donald Trump’s comments on Irish reunification went “further than any other president has gone in relation to constitutional change”, Sinn Féin’s leader in the Seanad has said.
Senator Conor Murphy said the US president’s intervention on unity has put the issue back in focus and warned against reunification being handled in a similar manner to Brexit.
“So, I do think following on former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s comments about the inevitability of a united Ireland, it does, I think, reinforce to our own Taoiseach the need to get down to serious preparation work,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“We don’t want to stumble into another Brexit-type scenario. We want an orderly and smooth transition into constitutional change on the island.
“We really would have been pressing the Government in Dublin to get on with that work, and to begin the very necessary preparation work, and the dialogue that is required with the British government as well.”
Mr Murphy rejected suggestions that Sinn Féin were at risk of hypocrisy by welcoming Mr Trump’s comments over the weekend, while continuing to be critical of his other policies, including the war in Iran and support for Israel.
“No, and we remain critical of that,” he said.
Mr Murphy said the US used its “political might” to help drive the peace process in Ireland, but it moved away from using its power to resolve conflicts.
“It has unfortunately departed from that largely ever since, and we have been very critical all over the years that we’ve been visiting the States, that we very much support America’s view on Ireland, but we’re very critical of its foreign policy elsewhere.”
Mr Murphy said the “lessons” of the peace process in Ireland should be followed in other parts of the world, particularly in Palestine, where he said America has given “unequivocal backing and support to Israel”.
Darragh Nolan Today 06:33 AMDenise Calnan
In Pictures: Trump arrives back to the US after his two-day trip to Ireland
Today 06:11 AMDenise Calnan
Kevin Doyle: Who could have predicted Donald Trump’s visit would turn into a triumph for everybody involved?
US president opened the conversation for a united Ireland and even gave us a tax exemption – for all his flaws, nobody holds the limelight like him, Kevin Doyle writes
Read the full piece here: Who could have predicted Donald Trump’s visit would turn into a triumph for everybody involved?US president opened the conversation for a united Ireland and even gave us a tax exemption – for all his flaws, nobody holds the limelight like himwww.independent.ieToday 06:10 AMDenise Calnan
In Pictures: Trump leaves Ireland after 36-hour trip
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with journalists prior to boarding Air Force One at Shannon Airport in Shannon, Ireland, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)Today 06:05 AMDenise CalnanTruth SocialTruth Social is America’s “Big Tent” social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology.truthsocial.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 06:02 AM
Air Corps shadows sanctioned Russian crude-oil vessel off Clare coast as Donald Trump visits Doonbeg
Maritime tracking data later showed the tanker within 80km of the western coastline
An Irish Air Corps surveillance aircraft conducted operations above a sanctioned Russian tanker sailing off the Clare coast on Sunday while US president Donald Trump was in Doonbeg.
The crude-oil tanker, the Dozor, entered Ireland’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Sunday, with maritime tracking data later showing the vessel within 80km of Ireland’s western coastline.
The Russian-flagged vessel previously operated under the name Jumbo and has been sanctioned by multiple countries, including the UK, over its alleged role in activities linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Robin Schiller reports: Air Corps shadows sanctioned Russian crude-oil vessel off Clare coast as Donald Trump visits DoonbegMaritime tracking data later showed the tanker within 80km of the western coastlinewww.independent.ieLoad moreTickarooLive Blog Software