Trump set for Ireland visit amid backdrop of protests and meeting with long-standing critic

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to touch down in Ireland on Saturday morning, arriving amid what has been described as one of the largest security operations ever implemented by the Irish police service (An Garda Síochána).

A number of demonstrations protesting against Mr Trump’s visit have been planned.

During the trip, Mr Trump will take part in engagements in Dublin, the Irish capital, as well as at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, which is hosting the Irish Open.

Irish premier Micheál Martin said he looks forward to welcoming Mr Trump to Ireland and "discussing the many issues of mutual interest and reaffirming the strong economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Ireland and the United States".

Martin added: “His visit comes during a remarkable sporting summer for Ireland, and the United States and this weekend’s Irish Open at Trump International Doonbeg will be a fitting conclusion to an outstanding season of sport, and I hope we will see an Irish winner lifting the trophy on Sunday.”

He is also expected to meet President Catherine Connolly, a long-standing critic of the US president, at her official residence Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, before a nearby engagement with Mr Martin, the Taoiseach at the Farmleigh Estate.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Trump’s son, Eric, said the US president is prepared to welcome anyone with open arms during the trip, while remaining equally ready to go head-to-head.

Asked how he thought the meeting with Ms Connolly will go, Eric Trump said: "Honestly, I leave it to them.

"I have seen so much political nonsense over the last 12 years where one day two people hate each other and the next day the two people are hugging.

"What I’ll say is my father is willing to open his arms to anyone, and he is also willing to go head to head with anyone. You’ve seen that in the Oval Office and around the world.”

The US president will also attend a series of events at Deerfield, the residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said peaceful protest would be facilitated as much as possible, but there will be “no tolerance” for public disorder or attempts to impact “critical movements” of the US president.

“We have robust policing plans in place and will arrest and prosecute those committing offences”, he said, adding that water cannon will be “on standby” but said he hoped they would not be needed.

Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris will welcome Mr Trump as he arrives off Air Force One at Dublin Airport early on Saturday morning.

Speaking ahead of the moment, the Tánaiste said the visit offers an “opportunity to mark and reflect on the deep and enduring links between Ireland and the United States”.

“I am looking forward to getting a chance to meet again with President Trump following a brief engagement on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York last year,” he said.

“Ireland and the US have deep and enduring political, economic, cultural and historical links that transcend the administrations on both sides of the Atlantic.

“There are clear benefits from high-level visits such as this as they offer an opportunity to engage on the deep economic relationship between our two countries which creates prosperity, jobs and opportunity for large numbers of people here and in the US.”

Mr Harris said Mr Trump’s visit will be an opportunity for the Irish Government to engage substantively as the US remains Ireland’s largest trading and investment partner.

“More than 900 US companies directly employ 245,000 people in Ireland, while more than 200,000 people are directly employed by almost 800 Irish companies in the US,” he said.

“Our economic partnership delivers for both countries. US firms present in Ireland have contributed to an economic ecosystem that has driven improvements in productivity and encouraged Irish companies to scale and grow in the US and internationally.”

The visit will cause significant disruption and road closures around Dublin Airport and across the capital city as well as in Co Clare and Shannon Airport which will also be used by Mr Trump.