A vision in armour-plate

There was a time when US presidents visiting Ireland could be seen peering out of the sunroof of their black limousines, waving to onlookers and dodging the mandatory protesting egg.

In 1970, it reportedly took five gardaí to subdue an anti-Vietnam war protester who approached the presidential motorcade carrying President Richard Nixon as it made its way out of Shannon airport. The president was forced to pull his head inside the car through the sunroof during the incident in what was a major security breach.

That was then. Nowadays any protester foolhardy enough to take on the US president's entourage with an egg or any other implement will be wasting his or her time. It's likely the sound of the egg would be unnoticed in the interior of a modern-day presidential car.

When President George W Bush takes the presidential limo from Air Force One across the tarmac in Shannon Airport and down to Dromoland Castle on Friday he will be hard put to get out of the vehicle through its armour-plated doors, let alone stick his head out through the roof.

The latest generation of US presidential transport - the Cadillac de Ville - is a mobile office, tank and fortress rolled into one. The car, it is thought, will be flown into Ireland ahead of Air Force One and will be in place when Mr Bush arrives on Friday evening.

The president's people are understandably reluctant to divulge precisely what measures have been taken to protect the president in his car.

There is little doubt it has been heavily customised to cater for such eventualities as a gun or bomb attack or even a menacing car chase through the backroads of Co Clare.

President Bush's car is believed to be the most sophisticated presidential car in history. US multinational O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt has the job of turning a run-of-the-mill Cadillac into a "presidential Cadillac". The company has carried out similar work for more than 60 international heads of state and diplomats around the world.

America's president during the second World War, Harry S Truman, had his car bullet-proofed by the company in the 1940s, but technology has come a long way since then. The car in which Mr Bush will travel this weekend is likely to have a range of security features more at home in a Bond film.

There is no sunroof, the windows do not open (the entire vehicle is sealed from the external environment) and the US army itself would find it difficult to penetrate the armour protecting the controversial occupant.

The glass in the windows is six centimetres thick, capable of deflecting gunshots. The cabin is wrapped in armour plating, making the bodywork virtually impossible to penetrate. Furthermore, the anti-explosive fuel tank system is made so as to help prevent leakage, fire, and explosion from fuel tank punctures.

The doors on the car are so heavy gas pistons have to be used so they can be opened with greater ease. It's no wonder they are heavy. Concealed gun ports in the door are available to order, although it is not known if the US administration opted for this. The presidential-standard run-around can also include two batteries in case one fails, and intercom allowing occupants to communicate verbally with people outside the vehicle without having to open the doors.

If other vehicles give chase, blinding lights can be switched on, on the front or rear of the vehicle. If that fails the car is fitted with ram bumpers on the front and back to force any offending vehicles off the road. If the baddies blow out the tyres, the tyre inserts are designed to allow the vehicle to continue travelling after tyres have been punctured.

Remote starting also ensures the car is at a perfect temperature when the president sits in. After all, comfort is as important as anything else.

THE SECURITY PLAN

A major security operation has already swung into action for the visit of President George W Bush to Ireland on Friday and Saturday. The operation involves an estimated 6,000 gardaí and troops and costs approximately 3 million. The Garda has issued a list of road closures to coincide with the visit. Traffic will be affected between 10 p.m. tomorrow and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The following roads will be closed:

• From tomorrow night the R458 from the Clare Inn roundabout to Ministers Cross, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
• From 3 p.m. on Friday there will be severe restrictions on the N18 until 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Galway-bound traffic will be diverted at the Clonmoney flyover on the Limerick side of Shannon via Sixmilebridge and Tulla. Traffic will rejoin the N18 at Lough Cutra near Gort. Ennis-bound traffic will be diverted at Clonmoney via Sixmilebridge on the R352 into Ennis.

Motorists travelling from Galway and Ennis will be diverted at Skehanagh, Clarecastle via Quin and Sixmilebridge. Traffic will rejoin the N18 at Clonmoney. Gardaí will be on duty and diversion signs will be in place.

Shannon airport will operate as normal during the visit, but intending passengers have been advised to add at least an extra hour to their travelling time to allow for any delays. This is in addition to any extra time advised by airlines or tour operators.

- Patrick Logue