Where to protest Donald Trump during his visit to Ireland

Many protests are planned for President Trump’s visit to Ireland June 5 - 7.

On the heels of his state visit to the UK, President Trump will arrive in Ireland tomorrow, Wednesday, June 5, to spend the night at his family’s golf resort in Doonbeg, Co. Clare before flying to France for the anniversary of the D-Day landings. He is expected to then return to Ireland for the night and fly back to the US on Friday.

Anti-Trump protests will take place across Ireland.

It will be Trump’s first visit to Ireland since winning the 2016 election. He was previously scheduled to visit Ireland in November 2018, stopping in Dublin and Doonbeg, but canceled the trip. The White House cited “scheduling issues” and it was also reported that many protests were being planned.

Read  More: Will President Trump get a warm welcome in Ireland?

This time, he will fly into Shannon Airport, briefly meet there with Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, and then travel to Doonbeg. While Varadkar has affirmed his commitment to continuing Ireland’s diplomatic relations with the US, he also emphasized that protests were welcome.

“A lot of people would be very critical of President Trump, including me on occasions, on issues around climate, for example, on his opposition to free trade, on the criticisms that he has made of the European Union, on issues such as women’s rights,” he said.

“I have the opportunity, as I’ve had in the past, to raise these issues with him in person,” Varadkar added, “but I understand that other people will wish to do so by means of protest. And in a democracy, protest is allowed and is welcome.”

Trump is embraced in the town of Doonbeg for boosting the local economy, but the Irish people overall have a very high disapproval rating of Trump. A December 2017 poll found that 82% of Irish people hold an unfavorable view of Trump, which was the highest out of all the countries surveyed.

Read More: Trump's hate speech deserves a ban from Ireland, readers vote

Representatives from the Stop Trump Ireland coalition, comprised of nearly 50 political, human rights, and anti-racism groups, launched their series of protests outside of Leinster House in Dublin on Monday. The largest of the protests will take place in Dublin, with additional protests scheduled for Shannon Airport, Galway, Cork, and Sligo, among others.

"We are sending a simple message that Donald Trump and his toxic views are not welcome in Ireland," Memet Uludag of United Against Racism told the Press Association.

In addition to the physical protests, Friends of the Irish Environment will deliver a petition with 100,000 signatures opposing the environmental impact of the measures the Trump International Golf Club at Doonbeg is taking to block coastal erosion.

Dublin

Protesters will be gathering on Thursday, June 6 at 6pm at the Garden of Remembrance in Parnell Square. This will be the main Dublin protest and will include the ‘Trump baby blimp’ on loan from London, where it has been a key feature of Trump protests. Facebook event here.

Shannon Airport

At 3pm on Wednesday, June 5, protesters will begin setting up a peace camp outside of Dublin Airport, which will remain active for the duration of Trump’s time in Ireland. Facebook event here.

Sligo

United Against Racism and People Before Profit have planned a protest for Thursday, June 6, at 6pm, at the Famine Memorial at the Quay Street car park in Sligo.

Cork

An anti-Trump demonstration will take place on Thursday, June 6, at 6pm at Grand Parade, one of Cork City’s main streets.

Galway

Crowd of around 100 people gathered in Galway this evening to protest ahead of the arrival of US President Donald Trump in Ireland pic.twitter.com/mexWqTH0pr

— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) June 4, 2019

A Galway Together Rally Against Donald Trump is happening, Tuesday, June 4, at 6:30 pm in Eyre Square.

Belfast

Jayda Fransen and President Trump supporters counter protested at a demo at Belfast City Hall against his visit pic.twitter.com/dzq2OlH6PS

— Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) June 4, 2019

A protest planned by ExAct (Expat Action Group Northern Ireland) is taking place at 6:30pm outside of Belfast City Hall.

Organizing or attending another Trump protest? Tell us on social media or in the comment section.