US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Ireland next week, with plans for him to meet with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly in Dublin. The visit will precede his travel to his Doonbeg hotel in County Clare for the conclusion of the Irish Open golf tournament on Sunday, September 13.
According to a secret internal briefing seen by the Irish Mail on Sunday, the Irish government is making security and protocol arrangements for the president's arrival. Trump is expected to arrive in Dublin on Friday, September 11, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The following day, he is scheduled to turn the sod on the new U.S. Embassy complex in Ballsbridge, though final confirmation for this event is still pending. U.S. Ambassador Ed Walsh, a close friend of Trump, has indicated the president is expected to attend the ceremony.
Following the embassy event and meetings in Dublin, Trump is expected to depart for County Clare, likely by helicopter from the Phoenix Park. His arrival at the Doonbeg resort is anticipated to mirror his 2019 visit, which featured a helicopter landing accompanied by escort gunships. The golf tournament typically concludes between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sources involved in the 2019 visit have noted increased security complexities due to high-profile assassination attempts on the U.S. president. The need to maintain a security exclusion zone around the rural venue, combined with the international golf tournament, presents significant security challenges. These are further complicated by the proximity to the 9/11 anniversary.
Political Contrasts
While the itinerary includes a meeting with President Catherine Connolly, a senior government source noted the marked opposition in their political outlooks. Connolly has been a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy. During her presidential campaign, she stated, "Have I a trust problem with America? I think everyone in the country has a trust problem with America. They have a president, Trump, who is volatile, unpredictable, acting like a bully, bringing in tariffs when it suits him."
She also commented on the Middle East conflict in March 2026, stating, "They are deliberate assaults on the international laws that have underpinned global peace for 80 years. We must name them as such, without euphemism and without equivocation." When questioned about these remarks, Trump responded, "Look, he's lucky I exist, that's all I can say."
Regarding a potential meeting with Trump, Connolly had previously committed to meeting him if required as part of her official duties. She specified during a presidential debate in October 2025, "If it's just a meet and greet, then I will meet and greet. If the discussion is genocide [in Gaza], that's a completely different thing."
The Taoiseach formally invited Trump to Ireland for the golf tournament during his visit to Washington in March. The Doonbeg Golf Resort was selected as the venue for this year's Irish Open nearly a year ago, with confirmation of a concurrent U.S. presidential visit received in January.