The security operation will reach full scale upon US President Donald Trump's arrival later today

Secret service, airport-style checks in Doonbeg for Trump

11 Sep 2026, 23:01 by Petula Martyn, https://www.facebook.com/rtenews/ · RTE.ie

US Chinook helicopters have been flying over west Clare in recent days, conducting practice approaches at Trump International Doonbeg ahead of the arrival of the President of the United States for the Amgen Irish Open this afternoon.

A fortified helipad has been constructed for the landing of Marine One near the third tee.

Play on the links course is expected to be suspended when President Donald Trump lands for the third day of the tournament.

He will join thousands of other spectators, who are being ferried on double decker shuttle buses from park and ride facilities north and south of Doonbeg.

Gardaí have advised golf fans that they will be subject to airport-style security searches and scanning on arrival.

A garda armed support unit is seen moving through Doonbeg

The golf course and the surrounding area effectively went into lockdown yesterday evening as a major security operation swung into place.

Access to the environs of the resort is restricted with gardaí patrolling diversion routes and the wider area.

Members of the Secret Service are also on site. They have been engaging with gardaí, DP World Tour and management at Trump International Doonbeg.

The operation will reach full scale upon Mr Trump's arrival later today.

The visit is also expected to draw demonstrators, with protestors anticipated in both Doonbeg village and at Shannon Airport to voice their opposition to Mr Trump and his policies.

For the people of Doonbeg, the focus is firmly on the golf.

While the presence of Mr Trump’s name inevitably attracts attention, locally the Irish Open is being viewed through a very different lens - as a major opportunity for the village, for west Clare and for the businesses and people who have worked to make the event a success.

Jennie Drysdale, the chairperson of Tidy Towns Doonbeg, said a huge amount of work had gone into making the village look its best

There is a strong sense that the priority is not who owns the golf course, but what hosting one of Ireland’s biggest sporting events can deliver for the area.

The village slogan is 'Come for the golf, stay for Doonbeg’.

The hope is that everyone who comes to Doonbeg for the Irish Open will leave with a positive impression and want to return.

That means putting the emphasis on hospitality, on showcasing the village and the wider region, and on making the most of the international attention the tournament and Mr Trump brings.