Trump Visit: The President's itinerary

0:00The Pat Kenny Show on News Talk. Well, President Trump is back on Irish soil this weekend to take in some of the action at the Irish Open at his golf resort in Dune Bag, where some of the biggest names in golf will be competing for Rory's title. Shane Loury is at the top of the leaderboard at the moment, 11 under three shots ahead of the chasing pack having broken the course record with a round of 62 yesterday. Tom McKibben is next best of the Irish at five under, Rory McElroy back and joined 20th at two under, a cloudy day in Dune Bag, but minimal prospect for a rain later on in the day and perhaps a little bit of sunshine. But before he gets to the golf, which is really what he's here for, he has lots of things to do. He's already been to the Ours and Jessica Woodlock, our reporter, was there watching things unfold. Jessica, good morning. Hi, Pat, good morning. How did he go? So the trip of Donald Trump to Ireland

1:01has officially kicked off. He has literally had Joe Sleft, just as you went to air. So that means the meeting with Catherine Conley did overrun by about 20 minutes. He arrives here, he touched down in Dublin at half past eight and the White House press pool arrived to the Irish just before Donald Trump. He was greeted by a huge number of security personnel. We had members of the Secret Service. We had the armed guard of support unit and a number of other guardies standing by as well. When Trump arrived, he didn't really look around. He just kind of kept his head down and he greeted the defense force soldiers from the Kahul Brua barracks who gave him a guard of honor, followed by the infantry drawn from Finner Camp in Donniegall as well. So that was the kind of presentries, but obviously all eyes were on how he was going to to Greece, Catherine Conley. The pair exchanged their welcomes,

2:01they shook hands and although the media standing by couldn't hear what was said, there was a couple of smiles and even a laugh from Catherine Conley. President Trump then introduced Catherine Conley to his, I suppose personal delegation that were with him that included Donald Trump Jr. His wife and kids, so Donald Trump's grandkids as well as his deputy chief of staff from the White House, his political advisor and the US ambassador to Ireland. Catherine Conley then did the same with her Irish delegation and the pair went inside. Now interestingly past this sort of courtesy call was expected to last about 10 minutes and it actually went up to about 20 minutes, even longer, 25 minutes. And the pair weren't smiling when they came out, they weren't kind of, Trump wasn't his usual energetic self that you might expect. So it is interesting, we'd love to be a fly on the wall. Was it nobody, no media inside? No. No media were allowed in

3:02and I suppose the thought process was behind that was that media would shout questions and what's typically the small state room in the arise. However, that being said, when Trump did come out, there's a red carpet rolled here on the arise. As I said, they weren't smiling, but they did shake hands again. But Trump did take two questions from the media. He didn't refer to the meeting or talk about how it went with Catherine Conley. But one of the reports is shouted that Irish people are facing significantly higher energy costs since the war in Iran as we all know. And he said that that would be resolved if the Irish looked to trading with the North Sea and worked closer with the UK counterparts. He also answered a question about Saudi Arabia as well, but all the Irish media here were asking him back, he questioned how his meeting with Catherine Conley went and I suppose he didn't bite is how I described it. He looked, I suppose, in good form,

4:03but he wasn't kind of full of that usual energy that you might expect. He also didn't approach the media. He stood quite far back, but he did take those two questions. Tell me, it's customary for a welcome to include some gifts to the president. Did Catherine Conley give him anything? That's right, Pat. So she did, she gave him a St. Bridget Cross, which would be quite usual. She gave him a book about the voyage of St. Branden, which is, she describes it as one of Ireland's most important contributions to the culture of medieval Europe and a significant work of literature, but interestingly, Pat, and I think a lot of people will read into this out of all the great poets that Ireland has produced. She gave him a book of collected poems from Michael Longley. And now Michael Longley is a Belfast poet and she describes it. So this is the official correspondence that was issued to us from the artist this morning. He's described as one of the finest poets in Ireland. She describes his work as spanning love,

5:04war, nature and art. And the artist's communication signals importantly points out that Michael Longley's sonnet ceasefire draws on Homer and has become one of the defining Irish poems about what it is to forgive. So people will draw conclusions from her specific choice of that poem out of Michael Longley's collection, which as I said, discourse, war and love as well. So, I mean, let's be realistic. He's unlikely to read it. He isn't likely to read it, but he might read into what it means. As I said, the nation was expected to be a courtesy call. We know he signed the arrival book here at the Irish, but it did run. We were kind of looking around it, ran significantly over what people, even the department of foreign affairs sort of staff would have expected. He's actually running late for a family. He's probably just arrived there in the last few moments. But to be a fly on that wall, we can only assume people are hoping he might kind of give

6:05more of an insight into what went on in that. Well, we'll be talking to Sean DeFos in Farming for us, but we'll have to wait until the whole thing has, I suppose, stopped when Trump finally leaves to go to Deerfield House, the American ambassador's residence, and then we'll be able to talk to Sean about what unfolds there. Hopefully, there'll be more questions from the media, which will be answered by Donald Trump in that political situation. I mean, after all, Catherine Connelly is the head of state, but she's not political in, well, not supposed to be political in that sense. So we didn't expect fireworks in the ors. Perhaps we'll see something a little more compelling coming from the family when that meeting unfolds. All right. Well, you know, the whole order, thanks very much, Jessica, for joining us from Orson Rutheront, the whole object of the trip is to see the Gulf in Dunebeck. And I gave you the leader board there, which I, Larry, at the top of it, after that record-breaking round,

7:06we're joined now by our chief reporter, Barry White, who's at Trump International Gulf, links in Dunebeck. So Barry, good morning. Hi, Pat, good morning. When is President Trump expected to arrive? Well, Pat, you mentioned the Deerfield residence there in Phoenix Park, so Donald Trump is expected to give us speech there at the US ambassador at Edward Walsh's residence in Phoenix Park, wrote a 500-guestage, you to attend, but Walsh's engagements in Dublin are over. President Trump will fly to Shannon Airports, where he's expected to arrive shortly before 2 o'clock. Rain one will then take him from Shannon to Dunebeck, with the president, Jew here at the resort, sometime between half past two and three o'clock, I'm told. So he'll actually be arriving here, Pat, just as the leader of the Irish Open, she and Laurie, is Jew to get his third run underway. He's teeing off at half past two. So President Trump's arrival is expected to bring a halt to play here for around 15 or 20 minutes, as the helicopter will land at a helicopter

8:06that has been especially built just after 30 years. Do you play golf yourself, Barry? I do, yeah, I'm a king of golfers. It would be really bad form to interrupt a competition like this. Now, I know it's his golf course, but it really is bad form. It is, and it's on Herodov at a golf event like this, that play would be interrupted and disrupted, and I suppose with the players, you know, the whole aim of the game is you have to be totally focused. And I don't think she and Laurie, she and Laurie will appreciate, been interrupted as it's just about the T.R. and she and Laurie hasn't won an event in four years. So this is a big tournament for him, but I'm told that they will try to keep the disruption to a minimum, but as I say, Pat, it's beside the third T-box, so it's going to be very, very difficult to keep the disruption to a minimum. I mean, if you're looking at the, the cavalcade that went from the Ours to Dearfield, or too far, so far, I'm sure the same cavalcade will arrive up at Dearfield. I mean, it's endless.

9:06It's all sorts of stuff. I presume there's a, you know, medical team there, there's security teams, there's probably ground-to-air missiles in the cavalcade as well. When all of that arrives, it'll not be just Marine 1, there'll be probably five or six choppers that'll arrive simultaneously. This will be very disruptive. Yeah, we'll be, and look, they're saying it's going to be 15 or 20 minutes. We'll see what happens, but I will be surprised if it's only 20 minutes disruption, given what you just described there. As for the Gulf, I understand the President Trump plans to travel around the links and a Gulf buggy to watch some of today's third-rimes. There's also a specially constructed viewing stand that has been built behind the 18th Greens, behind the Green, you have the stand for Spectators, you have the VIP area, and then you have a specially built stand for Donald Trump. And I understand this is for him, and it's finally to view the Gulf at the back of the Green. They've had a habit speaking to the General Manager of Trump, Dumbag, Joe Russell. He says President Trump is very much here just to enjoy the Gulf.

10:09Yeah, I mean, you could probably call it a historic artist open in that regard to have a, the Irish open taking place, whether you ask President in attendance. And we've had the White House seek the service, obviously in Garteshire, on a, and the event security and our own security as well, all just working to ensure that the events can operate and take place as intended. And then with the major footprint of the US President arriving, that we accommodate board activities at the one time. And will there be any disruption for fans or the golfers when President Trump finally arrives? When the President lands, there's going to be a slight pause in play, obviously with the, with the, the child was coming in. And again, we have practiced that with the DP and the US services. And again, everything is careful planning. So there'll be a slight pause, but we're happy enough with that. And President of the land to golf will continue.

11:10And everybody will get out about their business. What's President Trump's plans then when he's here over the weekend, as you say, he loves golf, will he be out in the white spectating? Yeah, he's here for the golf. He has his official business per se in Dublin. But once he lands here, he's here for the golf and to enjoy something he loves. And so he'll see some of the world's best golfers coming in the afternoon. And then after prize living at Sunday evening, we expected he's going to depart. He's going to be handing out the trophy. We don't know. We'll have to wait and see. So that's Joe Russell, the general manager of Trump at Duneberg. Barry, you've been in Duneberg since yesterday. What's the atmosphere like in the town? Pat, there's an enormous security operation here. And it's across, quite declare. Like I was driving towards Duneberg yesterday and there appeared to be Guardian station, the London roadside at almost every turn. I passed dozens of guard of vehicles as well as checkpoints and temporary posts on the approaches to the village.

12:10Thousands of Guardian have been deployed for what has been described as an extraordinary event. Guard of divers, water cannon, anti-drawn technology, and signal jamming equipment are all being deployed. What hundreds of US secret service personnel are also understood to be involved here. The skill of the American military deployment is remarkable. 26 C-17 transport aircraft have traveled to Ireland's 19-3 Shannon, 6-3 Dublin Airports and 1-3 Baldonal. Seven US helicopters have also been brought in. Four Chinooks at Baldonal, two presidential VH-3 helicopters at Shannon, and a VH-60 Whitehark at Baldonal. The Chinooks, you could see them flying overhead, quite declare at last night pass. And as well, as soon as the second run finished yesterday, there were security personnel outscanning the golf course, you know, secret service members, members of the defence forces outscanning the golf course. Safety searches, I don't think there were searching for lost golf balls pass.

13:10Now, I understand that some members of Ungar the Shukona are unhappy with the way the whole operation has been handled. Yeah, but I've spoke to Rankin Files-Guardi, who are furious after being required to pay up front for their own accommodation. The Guarda representative associations as officers who've been left significantly out of pocket field used and abused, I'm aware of one guarda who paid 1800 euro for accommodation, only to be told afterwards that they would be stationed a narrower way from where he was staying. So what the skill of this operation is unprecedented. There is considerable anger among some of the Guardi involved over how their accommodation and deployments has been handled. Now, finally, Barry, it is supposed to be all about the golf and not about politics. So what are conditions like on the course I would expect with the great man arriving to inspect his property? It'll be in pristine condition. You've had the conditions completely deference this morning. Yesterday was bright and sunny with only a light breeze, perfect golf conditions yesterday. Today, it's wet and windy in the rain with tarantula

14:13times overnight. So if Donald Trump does venture out onto the courses afternoon, parts heal, certainly near his wet gear, otherwise things are expected to improve later this afternoon. There is a possibility the weather could interoper today. The wind is fairly blowing and to in beg at the minutes, add in the expected pause when the president arrives. There is an outside chance the third row and may not be completed this evening. The pace of play has been slow here so far this week. Some players took six hours to finish the runs on Thursday, as I said, she and Lairi teased off at half past two today. We also saw the Irish up and go to a playoff last year. So there is at least the possibility that the tournament pack could spill into Monday. However, with President Trump expected to present the trophy along with his son, Eric, at the course, officials will be doing everything they can to ensure it finishes tomorrow. There would be some irony if it did run into Monday. It is understood that Donald Trump, but this is a flying visit and he's true to leave Ireland and Sunday evening. The golf course here

15:14itself, it is a mackerel that I walked at yesterday. It is an unbelievable golf course. However, as for the crows, I was actually surprised by her quiet of felt here yesterday. There were sizable galleries following she and Lairi and Marie Macaroy, but I certainly didn't feel as though there was 20,000 spectators here on the course. I've seen much larger cries of previous Irish opens. More people are expected today and tomorrow, but it will be interesting to see whether the disruption and the skill of the security operation have discouraged some fans from attending. We won't have the official attendance figures until tomorrow night, but tickets will be crucial if they fall short of expectations. The question will inevitably be asked past, was it Donald Trump factor partly responsible? Of course, other golfing jurisdictions will be looking at Trump's ambitions to have various major events held at his other courses. Doon Begg, if you like, is the petri dish for that kind of thing? How disruptive was it? Is the presence of any president,

16:17anyone like Donald Trump, who is a potential target, is the presence of such an inhibitor that he affects tournaments and maybe he won't get any more? It remains to be seen, Pat. Look, the players have been very diplomatic when they've been asked about Donald Trump coming to watch the golf this week. Marie Macaroy said that, look, it says course. Of course, he can come and watch the tournaments, but I would dare say that the players Pat would rather Donald Trump wasn't here, and there was less disruption for them this weekend. As we touched on when Donald Trump raised, we're told there will be a 20-minute disruption. I think it'll be much longer. I described there might be helicopters and the security operation here. You could be maybe looking at option hours, disruption of play. As I said, some of the reins here, Pat, talk sex are so you could have seen Ryan for three, spill into Monday. As I say, it would be quite ironic, Donald Trump's here to hand out the trophy at his own resource, and there is a chance it's play could spill into Monday. Now, you can't second guess the security people, but to me, the idea

17:18of going back to Dublin Airport in the big beast and then hopping on Air Force One and then choppering to Dunebeg. I mean, I've flown to Claire myself in a chopper and you do it in less than half an hour. And in one of those choppers, much faster than that. Why he's not taking off from dear field and going straight to the course and being there well in time for the start of the third round, I do not know. Anyway, that's another question. Barry, thank you very much for joining us from Dunebeg. The Pat Kenny show Saturday and Sunday from 10am on News Talk, Conversation that counts.