Protesters Rally in Doonbeg as Trump Watches Irish Open at His Golf Course

Protesters assembled in the village of Doonbeg in County Clare on Sunday as US President Donald Trump watched the Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, the course he owns in the area.

Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans including "Out Trump out!" and "US military out of Shannon." Some held signs reading "Lock him up" and "No faux-king welcome."

Sarah Clancy, who organised the protest, said public demonstrations remain the most effective means of achieving political change. She argued that institutions in both Ireland and the United States have failed citizens, citing US conduct in conflicts abroad and the situation in Cuba. Clancy said people in countries like Ireland, who enjoy the freedom to assemble, have a responsibility to use it.

Lily De Sylva, who works for a community radio station, said she did not believe Trump should be welcomed anywhere, though she acknowledged he is unlikely to be affected by such sentiment. She said it was positive that people were willing to make their views and pertinent facts known, but added that visitors to the area should still be welcomed.

Not all local reaction was hostile. Martin Kelly, who runs a construction business in Doonbeg, said the visit draws a range of visitors to the village, some of whom support Trump and some who do not, but all of whom spend money locally. He described the golf course as a major employer that generates positive energy and helps nearby businesses, noting that many people come to see the course and the wider West Clare area.

During his weekend visit, Trump told Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at a meeting in Dublin that a unified Ireland would be "fantastic," weighing in on the sensitive question of reunification between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Speaking later to business leaders from both countries at the US ambassador's residence, he acknowledged there is "no good answer" to the reunification question.