Doonbeg ‘used to Trump in our backyard’ as village braces for presidential visit

Doonbeg residents have said they are “used to having President Trump in our backyard” as preparations begin for the US leader’s visit to Co Clare.A large Garda and Secret Service presence was already in place around the small rural village and the Irish Open course on Thursday ahead of US President Donald Trump’s expected arrival at the weekend.Pubs along the small main street have set up marquees and outdoor bars for the tens of thousands of expected visitors.A fleet of former London double decker buses are running a constant shuttle service from the golf course to the town and residents were given tickets to attend the Open on Wednesday.A double decker shuttle bus in the small Co Clare village of Doonbeg, as the area prepares for tens of thousands of visitors for the Irish Open and the arrival of US President Donald Trump. (Claudia Savage/PA)Jennie Drysdale, chairwoman of Tidy Towns Doonbeg, said a huge amount of work had gone into making the village look its best.“Needless to say, we’ve been preparing for the Irish Open for over a year and it’s been absolutely fantastic,” she said.“We’ve had the opportunity of doing projects that have been on our to-do list for quite a while and the Irish Open gave us a deadline to get it done, and I’m happy to say that as of Tuesday this week at four o’clock, our list was done.“So, we’re really happy and the village is looking absolutely fantastic.”She said the local people were “ready” for the huge influx expected with the golfers and the visit of Mr Trump.“Doonbeg is a small village, but we have several festivals throughout the year,” she said.“We have the International Jazz Fest, which is free, and people come from all over for that festival.Jennie Drysdale, the chairperson of Tidy Towns Doonbeg, said a huge amount of work had gone into making the village look its best. (Claudia Savage/PA)“And then also, too, we’re renowned for our drama festivals as well, so this is something that we’re used to – maybe not having 70,000 people in our neighbourhood, but we’re used to large crowds.”Asked how the locals were finding the increased police presence, she said: “Just like we’re used to hosting festivals, we’re also used to having President Trump in our backyard.“So, it’s all about co-operation between the Gardaí, the Secret Service and the villagers. We all work together to make it a successful visit.”Read MoreMs Drysdale said she was most looking forward to Sunday night “when I can say the work is done”.“And if we have people that come into the village and say, ‘you know what, I’m coming back next year, or I’m going to come back in a couple of years back to Doonbeg’, I would say we’ve had a very successful week,” she said.Caroline O’Brien, owner of the Igoe Inn pub in the village, said it is a “great week” for the town.Caroline O’Brien the owner of the Igoe Inn pub in Doonbeg said the Irish Open is a “great week” for the town.“We thought that when the golf club was built, it was fantastic, but to have the Irish Open in Doonbeg is just something surreal to us all,” she said.“And there’s been huge work done around the place and, hopefully, we’ll have plenty of people around and come and visit the pubs and the restaurants, and spend a few bob in our village and keep us all going.”Ms O’Brien said they were “hoping plenty” would flood into the village, adding that Mr Trump’s attendance will “add a huge press to the whole area, so it’s great for Doonbeg”.“It’s his property, I suppose, and for him to be here for the Irish Open, it’s a great honour for the people running the Irish Open, so it’ll bring extra people, security, press, to come and see him,” she said.Tommy Tubridy, founder of Tubridy’s pub, described the Irish Open being in town as “the best thing that has happened Doonbeg in the last 50 years”.“It’s unreal the publicity we’re getting, and the amount of business, we’re just booked out all weekend,” he said.“Even with a good number of years since the golf course came to Doonbeg, (it) has been just fantastic for our parish and for the whole of west Clare and County Clare.”