Donald Trump turns focus to golf at Doonbeg after Irish unity comments

Main pointsDonald 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.Best readsBeauty queens, corporate titans and Michael Flatley gather for Trump’s meandering address‘Not as orange as he looks’: Northern parties weigh Trump’s united Ireland commentsPat Leahy: Ireland keeps good relations and Trump talks golf. Both sides get what they wantSarah Burns - 36 minutes agoVideo 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.US president Donald Trump walks through the members bar of his Doonbeg golf resort as he attends the Irish Open. Photograph: Claudia Savage/PA Wire US president Donald Trump walks through the members bar of his Doonbeg golf resort as he attends the Irish Open. Photograph: Claudia Savage/PA Wire Sarah Burns - 42 minutes agoThe 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.Rory McIlroy putts on the third green on day three of the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg. Photograph: Jasper Wax/Getty Images Rory McIlroy tees off on the 14th hole on day three of the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images US president Donald Trump makes a gesture to Rory McIlroy after finishing his round on the eighteenth. Photograph: Ben Brady/INPHO Sarah Burns - 57 minutes agoThousands 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.Sylvia Jones, Dublin at the Trump demonstration from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dail in Dublin city at the weekend. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times Siobhan McKenna and her daughter Olivia, from Dublin at the Trump demonstration from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dail in Dublin city at the weekend. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times Trump demonstration from the Garden of Remembrance to the Dail in Dublin city at the weekend. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times People hold placards as they protest against a visit by US president Donald Trump in Doonbeg. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images 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.President Catherine Connolly and US president Donald Trump at Aras an Uachtarain during a courtesy call at the start of his trip to Ireland. Photograph: Tony Maxwell/Maxwells/PA Wire President Catherine Connolly watches as US President Donald Trump signs the visitors book at Aras an Uachtarain. Photograph: Tony Maxwell/Maxwells/PA Wire US president Donald Trump meets with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images 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. CLARECASTLE, IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Brooks Koepka of the United States speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump on day three of the Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg on September 12, 2026 in Clarecastle, Ireland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)