CHELSEA CLINTON, the only child of President and Mrs Clinton, has arrived in Ireland for a holiday. US embassy officials and members of the Special Branch met her in Shannon on Sunday afternoon when she came off a flight from London, according to an airport spokesman. She and a woman travelling companion were taken from the airport in a limousine.
Her movements are a closely guarded secret but wellplaced sources said she was scheduled to stay in Dromoland Castle, not far from Shannon. The hotel's general manager said last night there was nobody of that name staying in Dromoland though he was aware of the rumours circulating that she was to stay there.
A Garda spokesman said he was not aware if Ms Clinton was in the State but, even if she was, they would not comment on it for "obvious security reasons". Ms Clinton is believed to be accompanied by three US secret servicemen.
Ms Clinton flew to Shannon with her companion on the evening AB Shannon flight from Gatwick. AB Shannon is a low cost operator which competes with Aer Lingus which flies to Shannon from Heathrow.
Dromoland Castle and its sister hotel, Ashford Castle in Co Mayo, are owned by a group of wealthy American investors with links to both the Republican and Democratic parties.