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 comments 10 minutes ago
Protesters travel to Doonbeg from all over Ireland: ‘I feel a duty to use my voice for those who can’t’
Protesters have travelled to Doonbeg from all across Ireland over the past two days to make a stand against US President Donald Trump’s presence in Clare.
Eleanor Fitzgerald is one of the few protesters that camped in Doonbeg overnight.
“I was here all day [Saturday] from 9am until 9pm. And I’ll be here today as long as it takes to see him out of Shannon,” she told the Irish Independent.
“I’ve come up from West Cork and I’m here today to use my voice. I have a voice and I can use it unlike many people around the world because of that man who is here in Doonbeg today. So, I feel a duty to use my voice for those who can’t.”
While talking to the Irish Independent, many cars passing through the village honked in solidarity with protesters.
Eleanor added: “We’re getting, as you can hear, a great response from many of the people of Doonbeg.
“They’re beautiful people here. It’s a lovely place. And it’s a great day to celebrate democracy, celebrate freedom of speech that we have here in this country.”
One woman, who travelled from Mayo, said she “could not let [his visit] pass without coming down”.
“I was working yesterday, but I’ve come to the protest today,” she said. “I could not let it pass without coming down to do a peaceful protest for all the innocent people around the world.
“It’s just very sad, and I don’t understand how people can go to the golf tournament, especially when it’s being held in Doonbeg, it’s beyond me, I just can’t understand it.”
The Mayo woman said she is “very concerned” about “the genocide that is going on in Palestine”, saying she believes “the funding of Israel [by the US] is horrific”.
“I’m very ashamed of the golfing organisations that are holding the function in Doonbeg, especially with what’s going on with the Trump administration, I think it’s horrific,” she added.
On Saturday, Orla Ní Néill travelled from Kilcullen in County Kildare to let President Trump know he was not welcome by all in Ireland.
“I think it is important to show that Ireland doesn’t want Trump here,” she said.
“In my case, particularly, working in the whole area of Palestinian solidarity… We know of the damage he has done there and so, I think it’s important to for us to show up and to show people that we’re protesting his presence, we’re protesting everything that he does.
“I think it’s important to be actually here in Doonbeg because I think the word went out a little bit that this part of the world is wholly welcoming of Trump. I’ve met a lot of people from Clare here who are clearly not Trump supporters and they’re happy to protest him.
“So, it’s important that we’re actually here where he’s come for the golf. He has no interest in anything else really. That was clear from the interviews that he did already this morning.”
For the Kildare woman, she said her trip today was not long when compared with “what the Palestinians are living with”.
“Well, I mean, I have a lot of friends in Palestine and in the West Bank in particular,” she explained. “I worked with trying to get Palestinian children over this this summer… [they were unable to travel because of visa issues].
“So, for me it’s very important that I, as an Irish person, protest against what’s happened to the Palestinians and show my solidarity, so coming [from Kildare] is not really long, given what the Palestinians are living with.”
Another protester, Aoife, who travelled from Connemara, was disappointed with the relatively low turnout for the Doonbeg protest on Saturday.
“[I came to protest because I] really feel that, for all his principles, [Trump is] just not welcome in Ireland and I wanted to voice my opinion,” she said. “I hoped there’d be a bigger turnout here. I’m a little bit disappointed with the small turnout.”
The Connemara woman said it made her “sick” to see the red carpet rolled out for Trump in Dublin on Saturday morning.
“It makes me sick, to be honest,” Aoife said. “[They’re all] sycophants who seem to be able to brush everything under the carpet and ignore everything that’s happening in the world and welcome him with open arms. It actually makes me feel ill.”
Molly Cantwell, Erika Sassone and Ian Smith 17 minutes ago
‘I think he’s a very nice guy’ – Trump on Burnham
Asked for his opinion on how UK prime minister Andy Burnham might feel about his comments calling for a united Ireland, Mr Trump said “everybody” says there will not be reunification until the majority vote for it, “and then things happen”.
“I’ve spoken to him, I think he’s a very nice guy,” the US president said of Mr Burnham. “He tends to be on the liberal side, unfortunately. The one thing he is going to be doing, I think he’s going to be stopping the stupid windmills and he’s going to be drilling in the North Sea.”
Darragh Nolan 24 minutes ago
Trump dodges questions about protests
When asked if he was aware of the protests against his visit on Saturday, Mr Trump skirted the question and told the reporter who asked it that she looked like the late singer Sinéad O’Connor, adding he meant it as a “compliment”.
Darragh Nolan 28 minutes agoDenise Calnan
BREAKING: Trump ‘loves’ the reaction to his reunification comments
US President Donald Trump has said he “loved” the reaction to his comments in support of Irish unification.
Mr Trump spoke briefly to reporters as he walked to the first tee on his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
When asked about the reaction to his comments, he said: “I loved them.”
Further asked about the backlash to his intervention, he said: “I love my comments.”
He did not appear to comment further when asked about a timeline for Irish unity or a separate question on Scottish independence.
Mr Trump also said it was “great” to be in Doonbeg and added: “I love Irish people.”
Press Association 33 minutes agoDenise Calnan
‘A geopolitical bombshell’ – How the world’s media reported on Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland
Darragh Nolan has a look at how the global media reacted to Trump’s visit to Ireland.
Read the full piece here:
‘A geopolitical bombshell’ – How the world’s media reported on Donald Trump’s visit to IrelandInternational coverage has focused on ‘controversy’ generated by US president’s united Ireland commentswww.independent.ie 43 minutes agoDenise Calnan
BREAKING: Gerry Adams says Trump’s support for Irish reunification is ‘welcome’
The former Sinn Féin leader urged Government to establish a Citizens’ Assembly to examine constitutional change and future all‑Ireland structures
US president Donald Trump’s remarks in support of Irish unity reflect the “broad north American sentiment”, former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said.
Mr Adams welcomed Mr Trump’s remarks but stated that Taoiseach Micheál Martin had “put himself outside this positive attitude” towards holding a border poll.
The US president is currently on a two-day visit to Ireland.
On Saturday, during a meeting with Mr Martin and in response to a question from the Press Association, Mr Trump claimed Irish reunification was inevitable, adding it “may as well happen now”.
He said: “I think it would be a fantastic thing.
During a subsequent engagement at the US ambassador’s residence, Mr Trump did not back away from his earlier answer, stating Irish unification would be “a very cool thing”.
Mr Adams, who was the Sinn Féin leader when the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, delivered a speech in Dublin on Sunday reflecting on the peace deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK’s Northern Ireland secretary can decide to hold a border poll, and has a duty to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.
And change to the Constitution would also need to be backed by voters in the Republic.
Mr Adams said Sinn Féin had disagreed with US administrations since 1998 on a number of issues “particularly the Middle East and other conflicts”.
He added: “Yesterday’s remarks by President Trump on the issue of Irish unity are welcome, even though we profoundly differ with him on many other matters, as we did with his predecessors.
“They reflect the broad north American sentiment towards Irish unity and particularly the Irish diaspora towards Irish reunification.
“And this is increasingly reflected in mainstream dialogue.
“Micheál Martin has put himself outside this positive attitude to Irish unity in Ireland and the diaspora.
“He needs to correct this and play a leading part in this process.”
Mr Adams said no government here has ever “produced a strategy” to give effect to Irish unity.
He said: “The absence of Irish government planning, almost 30 years after the agreement, is indefensible and incredibly short-sighted.
“There is no excuse for this.
“What is needed is the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including setting a date and planning for the referendum on the future.
“This requires inclusive discussions about the future to ensure that not only do citizens take informed decisions but that the new Ireland which emerges when the union ends is one in which everyone is valued and social and economic rights are upheld.
“The Irish government should establish a Citizen’s Assembly or series of such assemblies to discuss the process of constitutional change and the measures needed to build an all-Ireland economy, a truly national health service and education system and much more.”
Jonathan McCambridge, Press AssociationGerry Adams says Trump’s support for Irish reunification is ‘welcome’The former Sinn Féin leader urged Government to establish a Citizens’ Assembly to examine constitutional change and future all‑Ireland structureswww.independent.ieToday 12:44 PMDenise Calnan
WATCH: Protests continue in Doonbeg over the visit of US President Donald Trump
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=r7ZJK5EZqKwCagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 11:42 AM
‘I despair at any sort of religious idea that justifies Trump’ – Methodist priest travels to Doonbeg to stand against Trump
Protesters are gaining numbers in Doonbeg, where President Donald Trump landed yesterday afternoon to take in the Amgen Irish Open at the Trump International Golf Links.
One protester in particular, Reverend Steven Foster, held a sign stating, ‘Faith Over Fear – Trump Get Out Of Here’.
“Well, everything about Trump is the complete opposite of what I stand for as a follower of Jesus Christ,” he told the Irish Independent.
“He has enacted policies around destroying an aid program that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children worldwide. He is actively supporting a genocide in Gaza, and the destruction of Palestinian lands.
“[His] war-mongering and casual attitudes that result in the loss of life and the destruction of people’s lives… His hate and his division [not just in] his own country but worldwide and online.
“His influence is just utterly awful and against everything that I just simply stand for as a follower of Jesus. So, I feel compelled to be here and compelled to say that we should not in any way tolerate this man just because he wears a suit and is powerful.
“He’s a filthy old man that should not be given any attention.”
Speaking about those who follow Trump and tie his ideals in with godliness and holiness, the Methodist Priest said: “I despair at any sort of religious idea that justifies Trump and what he stands for, because those contexts are about power, about control…
“Trump knows at times how to use certain language to get certain people or groups, whether it be evangelicals in the States or whoever, on his side. But I think it’s incredible because this guy stands against everything that is at the centre of what Jesus Christ was about and what Jesus taught.
“As a follower of Jesus, I seek to live in terms of recognising the dignity and worth of every person.”
Protesters continue to gather in Doonbeg and will gather in Shannon from 2pm to further protest Trump’s presence in County Clare.
Molly Cantwell and Erika SassoneToday 11:05 AMDenise Calnan
Brendan O’Connor: Taoiseach’s wife Mary proves the secret weapon as Trump launches a lovebombing campaign
By normal standards, it was probably all pretty crazy. But the bar for “crazy” has been raised to such unsustainable levels now that it was all disappointingly normal. You’d nearly even say it was nice, Brendan O’Connor writes.
Read the full piece here: Brendan O’Connor: Taoiseach’s wife Mary proves the secret weapon as Trump launches a lovebombing campaignBy normal standards, it was probably all pretty crazy. But the bar for “crazy” has been raised to such unsustainable levels now that it was all disappointingly normal. You’d nearly even say it was nice.www.independent.ieToday 10:30 AMDenise Calnan
WATCH: Donald Trump receives a hero’s reception at hotel in his golf resort
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=xrRBoPWLzLUiagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 10:10 AMDenise CalnanA member of the public take a picture of the winners boards, featuring Shane Lowry of Ireland, on the way into the course during day four of the Amgen Irish Open Golf Championship 2026 at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Clare . Ramsey Cardy/SportsfileToday 09:52 AM
Small crowd kicks off second day of protests in Doonbeg
A small crowd has kicked off the second day of protests in Doonbeg.
The roads are quiet this morning after reports of crowds descending from the golf course for Saturday night in the village.
Reports from the village say that revellers enjoyed the local hospitality until the early hours of this morning.
Protests are expected to continue throughout the day as President Trump continues his stay at the Trump International Golf Course until later this evening.
Erika Sassone and Molly Cantwell Today 09:49 AMDenise Calnan
Mary Regan: Entertainment, political game playing or shooting from the hip? Donald Trump wades into the United Ireland debate
Everyone wondered if President Catherine Connolly would put the cat among the pigeons during the visit of Donald Trump, Mary Regan writes
But no one expected it might come by way of her short, sharp history lesson to the US President that might have stirred his interest in Irish unity.
During a twenty-minute chat over her tea with Mr Trump, President Connolly, the topic of Northern Ireland took up a lot of attention.
Read the full piece here: Entertainment, political game playing or shooting from the hip? Donald Trump wades into the United Ireland debateEveryone wondered if President Catherine Connolly would put the cat among the pigeons during the visit of Donald Trump.www.independent.ieToday 09:37 AMDenise Calnan
WATCH: Protesters gathered in Shannon yesterday against Trump’s visit to Ireland
Protesters are due to start gathering again this morning in Doonbeg. The official start time was 7am, but it was understood protesters were hoping people would arrive by 10.30am.
Agnoplay Videohttps://player.agnoplay.com/embed/independent?videoId=d6JAsdgajfwgagnoplay.comExternal contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.Today 09:25 AMDenise Calnan