Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland took him from the country’s political center to one of its biggest golf stages. The U.S. president, in Ireland for a two-day visit, first met Irish President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin, the president’s official residence, before holding meetings in Dublin.
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The trip then took Trump to County Clare, where he arrived at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg to attend the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament. But his arrival was met by more than the attention surrounding the tournament. Protests broke out over Trump’s visit, with demonstrators making their presence felt even at the golf course.
Videos show protesters on the 7th green during the Irish Open. In a video available online, two male teenagers, dressed in black, were involved in the demonstration. One was lying on the ground while the other paced nearby.
A security guard soon approached the pair. Upon noticing the guard, the teenager who had been pacing sat down on the ground. The guard then focused on the teenager lying down and attempted to remove him. Although the teenager tried to lie back down, the guard forcibly dragged him away.
Meanwhile, two additional security personnel approached the teenager who was sitting and lifted him by the arms. Eventually, all three guards were required to drag the two protesters away from the green.
This protest is driven by opposition to Trump’s foreign and domestic policies. A recent poll found that 69% of surveyed Irish citizens did not welcome his visit, prompting thousands of demonstrators to take to the streets in Dublin and other parts of the country.
Because of the protests, Trump’s security was tightened. Irish police prepared over 10,000 12-hour shifts from Friday through Sunday. Authorities also introduced airport-style security checks for spectators entering the course, while road closures and shuttle services were put in place around Doonbeg.
The scene at the Irish Open occurred shortly after the U.S. President’s Air Force One flew low over Trump International Doonbeg. Rory McIlroy was playing his third round then. He was looking for his golf ball in the rough near the third hole when the plane passed overhead.
The hole only added to McIlroy’s troubles, as he carded a double-bogey 6 and made an already difficult start to his third round even tougher.
Despite an underwhelming 74 heading into Sunday, putting him out of contention, McIlroy, who was looking for his third Irish Open title, spoke about the moment.
“I guess not the experience we’re used to in a way,” he said. “I think it’s Air Force One’s maiden voyage, I think, so that was pretty cool.
“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.”
Trump reached the event in time to see McIlroy play on the course, including his hole-out on the 18th green.
Trump is expected to attend the tournament on Sunday as well, briefly putting the small village in the international spotlight.
The Journal spoke to protestors
One protestor, Sarah Clancy, told The Journal, “We are in a village here of about 200 people, and Israel, supported by Trump, has cleared nearly 100 villages across Lebanon… Places just like this, where people have made their lives for decades.
“If it were me, I would like to think people would come out and support me, and not be rolling out the red carpet [for Donald Trump].”
Another protestor named Melina Sharp mentioned:
“That guy [Trump] is financing and pushing genocides and illegal wars. He should have no place in Ireland.”
Back at the Trump International Hotel, however, Rory McIlroy told reporters that he was set to sit down for dinner with the U.S. president.
Donald Trump’s arrival delayed the golf tournament
The Irish Open was briefly brought to a standstill as play was halted to make way for President Trump’s Marine One helicopter to land at his Doonbeg golf course. Among those caught waiting was Irish golfer Shane Lowry, the tournament leader, whose group was forced to pause on the third hole while the presidential helicopters landed nearby.
Trump was immediately ushered into the waiting motorcade, which carried the president and his entourage toward the hotel. And despite the spectators waiting nearby, things moved on without giving them a glimpse of Trump.
For all the security surrounding his arrival, Trump’s presence at the tournament itself was surprisingly understated.
Marine One and Marine Two were joined by two U.S. military Chinooks. Their landing interrupted play for less than 10 minutes before the tournament resumed.