Security was tight in Lahinch yesterday where a son of US President Donald Trump played golf with friends.
34-year-old Eric Trump played the old course at Lahinch which will host the Irish Open next year.
Mr Trump, who is Executive Vice President of the Trump Organisation, arrived in Shannon from New York in the early hours of Friday morning on board the Trump family’s luxury Boeing 757-200 private jet.
He was whisked away amid tight security to his family’s property in Doonbeg, West Clare to begin his private visit. Trump International Golf Links and Hotel was purchased by President Donald Trump in 2014, reportedly for €9m.
Eric Trump also visited the facility in April 2017 where he held a series of meetings including discussions on the future of the resort and the planning process surrounding proposed coastal protection works at the property.
He was back again in Doonbeg in July last year along with a group of 30 business people from the US on the final leg of a tour of Trump properties in Scotland and Ireland.
Eric Trump is understood to have played golf in Doonbeg on Friday before taking on the championship course in Lahinch yesterday (Saturday). It’s believed he will play one further round of golf today (Sunday) before running to the US however that location has not been revealed.
Sources have confirmed that in recent days, security personnel believed to be part of the US Secret Service, visited Doonbeg and Lahinch ahead of Mr Trump’s arrival on.
There was a visible Garda and Secret Service presence in Lahinch yesterday few were aware of Mr Trump’s presence. A helicopter from the Garda Air Support Unit was also seen in the area in recent days.
One golfer said: “I knew there was something going on when I saw the guards. There were a few others with dark glasses and long shirts that looked out of place. I didn’t know who was here until someone said it to me. I wouldn’t know the man (Eric Trump) if he walked up to me right now but I suppose some might see it as good publicity for the club.”
A spokesman for the Trump International in Doonbeg confirmed that Mr Trump is in Clare for a ‘business and golf’ visit.
Mr Trump is expected to return to the US on Monday.