Government anxious to steer clear of any Doonbeg bunkers

The US President Donald Trump and the Taoiseach Micheál Martin are to be reunited later today at the Irish Open Golf Tournament in Co Clare after President Trump prompted a diplomatic row yesterday when he backed a united Ireland.

Speaking to reporters yesterday afternoon on the first day of his Irish trip, the US president claimed Irish reunification was inevitable, adding it "may as well happen now" - prompting pushback from British political leaders, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Mr Martin is to attend the final day of play at President Trump's golf resort in Doonbeg alongside other senior members of Government, including the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Patrick O'Donovan and the Minister of State for Sport Charlie McConalogue.

The trio are expected to feature when President Trump awards the trophy to the victorious golfer around teatime; which at the moment could be Offaly's Shane Lowry who retired to the clubhouse yesterday evening with a four-shot lead.

Out on the course

No formal meeting is scheduled between Mr Martin and President Trump although the Fianna Fáil leader noted yesterday how Mr Trump had made similar comments about Irish unity over the past two years.

President Trump could also traverse through the course at some stage having yesterday confined himself to a perch overlooking the 18th hole.

The prospect of Mr Trump freewheeling through the Doonbeg resort and potentially taking further questions from the media creates a greater degree of unpredictability around the second day of his Irish visit and will generate a degree of anxiousness in Government and amongst Irish officials.

An armoured golf cart may help the US President sample more of the play as the Irish Open comes to a close.

Heading home

President Trump is expected to depart his Doonbeg resort for Shannon Airport on the Marine One helicopter at 7.30 this evening with Air Force One to take off for America before 8 o'clock.

Last night, he was given a rapturous reception as he made a brief appearance in the members' bar of his hotel.

Punters cheered and chanted "USA" and sang songs as Mr Trump filed through the bar on Saturday night.

He also hosted a dinner for some of the golfers playing in the Irish Open, including Co Down's Rory McIlroy, to whom President Trump gave personal encouragement to as he finished his round of golf yesterday.

President Trump yesterday described President Connolly as a "terrific lady" after their meeting at Aras an Uachtaráin.

However, he may reveal more of their encounter today should he be asked given the deep policy differences between the pair.