Main points
- Donald Trump is continuing his visit to Ireland today at the Doonbeg golf resort he owns in Co Clare, where he will watch the Irish Open and present the trophy to the winner.
- On a flying visit to Dublin on Saturday, the US president told reporters that Irish unity would be a “great thing”.
- The comments, made alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh, caused eyebrows to be raised north and south of the Border and in London.
- A significant policing and security operation will continue today. Thousands gathered in Dublin city centre and in Co Clare on Saturday to protest against Trump.
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Trump’s Irish unity remarks relfect ‘broad north American sentiment’, says Gerry Adams
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.
Adams has welcomed Trump’s comments but said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin had “put himself outside this positive attitude” towards holding a border poll.
On Saturday, during a meeting with Martin and in response to a question from a reporter, Trump claimed Irish reunification was inevitable, adding it “may as well happen now”.
He said: “I think it would be a fantastic thing.
“Now the UK will have something to say about it, obviously. But I think it would be a great thing. I mean, how can it be bad?”
During a subsequent engagement at the US ambassador’s residence in Ireland, Trump did not back away from his earlier answer, stating Irish unification would be “a very cool thing”.
Adams, who was the Sinn Féin leader when the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, delivered a speech in Dublin on Sunday reflecting on the peace deal.
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.”
Adams said no Irish government has ever “produced a strategy” to give effect to Irish unity.
“The absence of Irish government planning, almost 30 years after the Agreement, is indefensible and incredibly short-sighted,” he said.
“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.”
Three arrests made during Trump visit
Gardaí policing the visit of US president Donald Trump to Ireland have made just three arrests, all at the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Two of those arrested are known anti-war activist, who staged their protest on the course as Trump was arriving there on Saturday, Crime and Security Editor Conor Lally reports.
The Irish Times understands the two women arrested on the course on Saturday, while play was unfolding, are known to gardaí for their links to protesting against the presence of US war planes and troops at Shannon Airport.
Both of the women - in their 30s and 40s - appeared to emerge from the crowd at the seventh green on the course at the same time the Marine One helicopter carrying Trump was landing at the Doonbeg golf resort.
The women were wearing clothing with anti-Trump slogans and when they made their protest as the US president was landing they were arrested.
They were detained on suspicion of committing a public order offence, it appears because they had made an incursion into an area on the course where they were not permitted.
On Friday evening, another woman, in her 20s, was arrested at the golf course on suspicion of trespass. After the course had been closed and was being checked by Garda members and US security personnel the woman was discovered.
It is understood she refused to leave, though the course was not open to the public at the time, and she was detained.
Garda Headquarters has confirmed the arrests, adding the three women appeared before a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday evening.
While here have also been protests at Shannon Airport, and a large event in Dublin city centre, with several thousand people, on Saturday, no arrests took place.
Trump spent last night celebrating grandson’s birthday
The White House Press Pool news feed reports that US president Donald Trump spent Saturday evening at his hotel where he was photographed celebrating his grandson’s birthday and was greeted with cheers when he appeared at Doonbeg’s hotel bar.
It also reported that a White House official confirmed that Trump had dinner on Saturday night with some of the players at the hotel. No update as yet on when Trump will be seen at the Irish Open tournament on Sunday.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has arrived at Doonbeg golf resort in Co Clare where he has entered one of the Irish Open viewing pavillions.
Trump’s comments about Irish unity ‘unhelpful’, says British MP
Britain’s shadow foreign secretary has said Donald Trump’s expression of support for a united Ireland is “unhelpful”.
Tom Tugendhat told Sky News that it was “a shame that he’s playing games”.
The Conservative MP for Tonbridge said: “It is unhelpful because US presidents have traditionally supported the right of the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own future. That’s how we got to the Good Friday Agreement.
“I suppose I knew he was a Republican, I didn’t know he was that kind of a Republican.”
Trump could traverse golf course on Sunday
US president Donald Trump started Sunday at his golf resort in the south-west of the country as it hosts players including Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry for the Amgen Irish Open.
It is anticipated Trump will hand over the winner’s trophy at the Trump International golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, before flying back to the US at the end of a two-day itinerary.
While the president restricted himself to watching the golf from a balcony over the 18th green on Saturday evening, it is anticipated he could traverse the course on Sunday.
A major security operation is continuing for the visit, with An Garda Síochána liaising with the Defence Forces and US Secret Service in the area around the resort.
Trump’s presence sparked protests in Dublin and Clare – but Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said there would be “no tolerance” for public disorder or attempts to impact “critical movements” of the US president.
Taoiseach to meet Trump again at Irish Open
US president Donald Trump and Taoiseach Micheál Martin are due to be reunited later on Sunday at the Irish Open in Co Clare.
Martin is to attend the final day of play at Trump’s golf resort in Doonbeg alongside the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Patrick O’Donovan and the Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue.
It is understood they will feature when Trump awards the Irish Open trophy to the victorious golfer.
No formal meeting is scheduled between Martin and Trump.
Britain’s housing secretary has brushed off Donald Trump’s backing for a united Ireland, saying the UK remained committed to the Good Friday Agreement.
Angela Rayner told Sky News’s Sunday Morning programme: “Donald Trump is Donald Trump, and the president will say what and speak his mind as he sees it.
“But look, we’re really serious about the Good Friday Agreement.
“We’re very proud of our history there and working with Ireland to make sure that we implement the Good Friday Agreement and we continue on that path.”
Video has also emerged of US president Donald Trump walking through a bar in his hotel in Doonbeg to chants of “USA, USA” and “four more years” from the crowd who also sang The Fields of Athenry.
The sight of Air Force One ‘not the experience we’re used to’, says McIlroy
Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has said the sight of Air Force One flying-by the Irish Open tournament is “not the experience we’re used to”.
He added: “That was pretty cool to sort of see all that going on. I was trying to avoid making doubles at that point so I was trying to concentrate on my own stuff as well.”
McIlroy made the remarks in an interview with sports reporters on Saturday evening after US president Donald Trump arrived at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare where the tournament is being held and play will resume this morning.
He dismissed a suggestion that the aircraft was a distraction as he searched for a ball saying: “I don’t see what a plane at 10,000ft got to do with looking at a ball on the ground.”
While McIlroy has had a disappointing tournament, fellow Irish golfer Shane Lowry is leading going into the final day.
He said: “There’s a great buzz around the tournament because Shane’s up there and leading.”
McIlroy also confirmed he would attend the dinner for Trump at Doonbeg on Saturday night.
Thousands protest in Dublin and Clare
Trump also batted away any suggestion that planned protests indicated the desire of many Irish people that he stay away and he said that he was unaware there were protests happening.
“It can’t be a very big one because we’ve been all over Ireland today already but I haven’t seen any protest.”
Thousands gathered in Dublin city centre and in Co Clare to protest against the US president’s presence.
During his visit to Dublin on Saturday morning, Trump said Irish unity would be a “great thing” in response to a reporter’s question.
The comments, made alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh, caused eyebrows to be raised north and south of the Border and in London, but they were subsequently downplayed by a spokesman for the Taoiseach who made it clear that Ireland’s policy on the North had not and would not be changing.
A spokesman for British prime minister Andy Burnham said there was no majority support for a referendum and that one will not be held until that changes.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Northern Ireland’s constitutional future “will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland, not by commentary in London, Dublin or Washington”.
The US president’s flying visit to Dublin passed off without further controversy.
After brief meetings with President Catherine Connolly and the Taoiseach, Trump addressed a crowd including business leaders, politicians and cultural figures at Deerfield, the US ambassador’s residence. All three engagements took place within the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
Good morning. US president Donald Trump continues his visit to Ireland on Sunday.
A significant policing and security operation remains in Co Clare, with Trump staying at his hotel in Doonbeg where the Irish Open is taking place.
He is due to fly out of Shannon Airport on Sunday evening and return to the US.
Follow irishtimes.com for updates throughout the day.
