Staggering cost of Garda security operation for Trump's Irish visit revealed

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has revealed the eye-watering sum spent by the force on a security operation for US President Donald Trump’s recent Irish visit. 

Much of the country ended up at a standstill last month as Trump visited both politicians in Dublin and the Irish Open in Clare. 

The whirlwind visit saw him land in Dublin, where he met with President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Michael Martin and spoke at the Ambassador’s Residence. He then headed for his Doonbeg golf course for the Irish Open tournament. 

Now, while speaking before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, Kelly revealed that protecting the US President cost An Garda Síochána an estimated €30 million. 

Answering questions about the collection of money from events, which netted the force €7 million, Kelly revealed that it was for "non-public duty," which is paid by the organisers, according to The Journal. 

However, he admitted that no such classification was given for Trump’s visit. The trip, dubbed Operation Far Sunrise by Garda managers, was taken very seriously by all members of the force. 

Kelly said: "We weren’t down there to police a golfing event. We were down there to protect the President of the United States.

"We haven’t got the final figures. As obviously, it’s only recent. It’s finished relatively recently. What we estimated that would be around €30 million – the full cost of that."

Kelly later declared the visit an "extraordinary event" because of the large-scale policing operation needed to keep Trump safe. 

September 12, 2026: President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One at Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

The US President’s presence in Ireland saw a massive protest take place in the capital city, with police also forced to be on high alert for possible disruptions at Doonbeg. 

The "extraordinary event" status given to the visit had dramatic effects for gardaí, including their leave being cancelled, rest days changed, and training halted to free up as many officers as possible. 

It is understood that more than 25,000 meals were made for gardaí during the trip, many of whom ended up netting large overtime payments. 

Sources would later reveal that officers were deployed across Co Clare with roughly 2,400 on duty by day and 900 at night, securing different areas over a four-to-five-day period, according to the outlet. 

The Journal previously revealed that despite high-level Garda preparedness, US officials were left scrambling to find hotel rooms for a potential group of 1,000 people, many of whom were security officers. 

However, the Garda Representative Association had levied criticism prior to the event after it emerged its members would have to find their own accommodation and request the funds back from the force. 

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.