Dublin braces itself for Trump visit to talk trade, golf and Gaza

US President Donald Trump is touching down in Dublin where he will have a number of high-level visits with the Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin. He will also meet with Irish President Catherine Connolly - a former left-wing firebrand. Dublin is bracing itself ahead of a meeting between the US President Donald Trump and Irish counterpart Catherine Connolly Saturday morning. Trump is landing in Dublin where he is due to take part in a bi-lateral meeting with Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin for around an hour. The visit coincides with the US president's attendance at the Irish Open golf tournament - which is being held at his golf club - the Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Doonbeg in County Clare. Trump will spend the majority of his 48-hour visit at his golf club where world-class golfers including Rory McEllroy are in attendance. He is due to stick around until Sunday evening where it is expected that he will present the trophy to the winner of the tournament. Ahead of his trip to County Clare, sources say the Irish government will raise the issues of EU-US trade relations, support for Ukraine, the war in Iran, and the ongoing situation in Palestine. The president is also expected to urge Ireland to purchase US LNG gas as part of ongoing trade talks, and amid spiraling gas and oil prices due to Iran war Ireland was one of 12 countries which issued a statement backing sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Dublin expected a serious backlash from the White House over its targeting of key ally - Israel, but so far Washington has not responded. Government sources have also told Euronews that they expect a "St. Patrick's Day style" meeting between the taoiseach and Trump - meaning around a one-hour discussion on a range of matters in a convivial setting. "The relationship between Ireland and the United States is very important economically," Martin told reporters when asked about Trump's weekend trip. "It's very, very significant both ways," he said. However, it is the meeting of the head of state of Ireland, President Connolly, in the earlier part of Saturday morning's programme that is causing some nervousness in government circles. Last time Trump visited Ireland in 2019, President Connolly was a member of parliament, and used her voice then to protest at Trump's visit to the island. Ms. Connolly is a long-standing anti-war activist and, prior to being elected president of Ireland in 2025, she was highly critical of Trump's first term as president and once described him as a "bully and a misogynist." Her sister, Dr. Margaret Connolly, was detained by Israeli military forces in May 2026 after they intercepted a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid boat. Along with several other European and Israeli politicians, Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the interception as "unacceptable". President Catherine Connolly said she found the situation "quite upsetting" and expressed her concern for her sister and fellow activists. During the presidential campaign trail, Connolly told interviewers that she would fulfil her duties as head of state - a mainly ceremonial role - and "meet and greet" Trump if the moment came about. However, her supporters hope she will "speak truth to power" when given the opportunity. "She should speak truth to power,” Rosie O'Donnell the US comedian who moved to Ireland after Trump won a second term, told the Irish Independent. “I don’t think she should drop what she believes in to be polite to a madman. He is like a mad king that has destroyed the country," she said. O'Donnell is leading a protest against Trump's visit on Dublin's O'Connell Street at 1300 GMT. Trump is due to drop by for a "courtesy call" to Áras an Uachtaráin, the Irish president’s official residence and workplace in the city’s Phoenix Park. He will also deliver a speech to select guests at the nearby residence of the US Ambassador to Ireland, Ed Walsh - also in the Phoenix Park.