Donald Trump’s Doonbeg to host Irish Open next year

A Government source told Extra.ie that they hope the US president will visit his course during the tournament next September.

But Opposition politicians are sure to greet today’s announcement as a cynical attempt to gain favor with Mr Trump, who is known to be influenced by gifts and state favors for his many global financial interests.

In what will be a highly contentious move, the Trump International Golf Links will be announced later today as the venue for Ireland’s most prestigious golfing event, which was won by Rory McIlroy last Sunday.

Senior ministers were supportive of the decision, Extra.ie understands.

"President Trump told Micheál [Martin] in the Oval Office on the St Patrick’s Day visit that he hoped to visit Ireland during this term and our strong belief is that he will see this as the perfect opportunity," said a Government source last night.

Donald Trump and Michael Martin celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

Though the venue for the Irish Open is decided by the golf governing body – the DP World Tour – the Irish Government would have input into the decision.

 "This would not be happening without our say so," said a Government source. "We see it as a massively positive move for US-Ireland relations.

"The granting of this, the blue-chip annual international sporting event on the Irish sporting calendar, will of course provide a business boost to Mr Trump’s Doonbeg hotel and golf course,’ said a Government source.

"Naturally, we hope this munificence will be reciprocated in trade negotiations."

Cabinet were due to be informed of the decision this morning at 9.30am.

President Trump stayed at his Doonbeg resort in 2019 during his first term, on a trip to this side of the Atlantic that also featured a visit with the late British monarch Queen Elizabeth and attendance at the D-Day 75th anniversary commemoration.

Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, County Clare.

The Amgen Irish Open will be held in the run-up to US midterm elections, vital to Mr Trump’s MAGA movement.

Though he personally struck a 15% tariff deal with the European Union recently, Mr Trump has proven capable of increasing tariffs on a whim.

Tariffs on pharmaceuticals – a pivotal US direct investment to Ireland – are not fully nailed down.

There are many powerful figures in the US administration who have loudly criticized Ireland’s corporate tax regime and the location of US multinationals’ European bases here.

Sitting beside Mr Martin in the Oval Office last March, President Trump said: ‘The Irish are smart, yes, smart people. You took our pharmaceutical companies and other companies… This beautiful island of five million people has got the entire US pharmaceutical industry in its grasps.’

A source in the Government said last night: ‘We know that this move, to host an international tournament at his beloved Doonbeg will bolster President Trump’s already hugely positive attitude to Ireland.’

The DP World Tour has the ultimate authority to decide the venue of one of its sanctioned tournaments.

However, the tour works closely with Governments and other local interests. The DP World Tour, which sometimes struggles to attract the world’s top golfers due to competition from the more powerful US PGA Tour and the wealthy Saudi Arabian- backed LIV Tour, will be anxious to gain favor with Mr Trump, seen as a significant figure in the world golf industry.

Governments globally understand the role President Trump’s golf courses play in his diplomatic manoevring.

Mr Trump hosted British prime minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland in July and he called for the one of golf’s four international Major tournaments, the Open Championship to return to it for the first time since 2009, calling it ‘the best resort in the world’.

The head of the Royal & Ancient golf governing body, Mark Darbon, admitted that UK government officials have also spoken with the R&A about the possibility of Turnberry hosting The Open, although logistics are understood to be a major stumbling block.

Asked about the issue at a joint press conference, Mr Starmer said: "The decision on The Open is not a decision for me."

The Doonbeg course was bought by the Trump Organization in 2014.

The Trump Organization has invested more than €40million, including the purchase price, into the golf course, hotel and resort since then. All this helped
Doonbeg win the Best Golf Hotel 2024 in the World Golf Awards.

The 2023 accounts show that operating profits at the Co. Clare luxury golf resort more than doubled to €2.06million in 2023, in a record year for the business.

This followed revenues rising by 12% from €14.36million to €16.12million.

The resort is generating record returns on the back of visitors paying top prices for an Ocean View suite during high season, costing €2,720 per night.

It costs €525 to play a round of golf at the exclusive seaside links course.

The unique form of seaside links – where the golf course is built on top of natural sand dunes – can only be found in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

The Amgen Irish Open, which was held at Co. Kildare’s K Club last week, is due to be held there again in 2027. The K Club hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup, a bi-annual US v Europe match, which is being held in the United States later this month.

Mr Trump will attend the Ryder Cup in New York.

Another Irish golf course owned by another billionaire, JP McManus, will host the 2027 Ryder Cup in Adare, in neighboring Co. Limerick. And Co. Clare arch rival to Doonbeg – Lahinch Golf Links – will host the amateur US v Europe match, the Walker Cup, in 2027.

The Irish Mail on Sunday exclusively broke the news that Mr Trump was to visit Doonbeg in 2019.

The paper reported on the enormous security operation from within Doonbeg in 2019, which saw a ten-mile exclusion zone manned by US Secret Service, the Army and thousands of gardaí.

If Mr Trump visits Doonbeg next year, as the Irish Government expects, another massive security operation will have to be sustained.

In 2019, Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump flew to and from Doonbeg for Normandy in France by taking Marine One to Air Force One at Shannon Airport.

Doonbeg is set on the Wild Atlantic Way in one of Ireland’s most remote and scenic venues. The remote location has left it open to attack from those opposed to Mr Trump’s controversial political stances.

Last March, while the Taoiseach’s visit to Mr Trump was ongoing, gardaí were called to investigate at Doonbeg after a number of greens were vandalised. Palestinian flags were also placed on the grounds.

In a statement, gardaí confirmed they were investigating an incident of criminal damage that occurred at a commercial premises in west Clare.

A spokesperson for Trump Doonbeg said at the time: "This was a childish, criminal act but the incredible team at Trump Doonbeg will ensure it does not impact business. We have the greatest course anywhere in the world and we are so proud of the tremendous success and we look forward to a great season ahead."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.