Doonbeg

Let's bring in Declan Parnell, security and defence analyst.

Declan, this is quite a complex operation, or is it? Is the fact that it's kind of confined to two areas, the Phoenix Park and then later on the golf course in Doonbeg, does that make it more straightforward for the Gardaí?

Good afternoon, Shane.

Well, it swings and roundabouts, really.

We have something a little different for you today, related but unrelated, you could say.

Now, no doubt everybody knows the President of the United States is visiting Ireland this weekend, mostly aside from the diplomacy to attend the Irish Open that's taking place in Doonbeg at the hotel and the golf club that he owns and he is so proud of.

And with the 25th anniversary of 9-11, It's prompted a lot of reflection on America, what's happened to the country from the horrific attacks on 9-11 to Trump's hold that he now has on the country and the MAGA movement.

One of the many Irish people in New York on the day of 9-11 was an Irish writer, a a US National Book Award for his novel Let the Great World Spin, and subsequently wrote many other books that garnered awards, many of them related to 9-11.

And I am here in Doonbeg, in beautiful West Clare, ahead of President Trump's arrival on the Marine One helicopter tomorrow.

And a little earlier, I managed to secure an extensive sit-down interview with Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump.

We had some testy exchanges around council culture and Rosie O'Donnell.

I've been to this country probably more times than any American.

I would venture to say more times than any American.

I was here all the time as building this property when we acquired Doonbeg and obviously turned it into what it is today.

It was sick.

When we bought it, it was sick and needed a lot of money.

Is that a snap? Rhythm is a dancer on Q102.

All right, for reasons good and bad, all eyes are going to be on Doonbeg this weekend for the Irish Open.

There's US presidents, there's A-list celebrity stars, a bit of golf thrown in the mix too.

So if, like me, you are losing your loved one to the telly this weekend, I know I will be a golf widow this weekend.

I don't care about it.

But my husband is a golf fanatic.

So he's not down in Doonbeg because he has to put in a couple of hours this weekend minding the kids as well.

And so he's going to be watching it on the telly box.

in Dublin, all in the Phoenix Park, is in the US Ambassador's residence in Deerfield, which is, of course, just across the road from Orison Uchtdron.

After that, then he flies to County Clare, where he's going to Doonbeg, and apparently he's due in Doonbeg maybe as early as 2 o'clock.

Now, a lot of these kind of timescales are estimated and are are not set in stone perhaps because they haven't been set yet.

Is

And...

Declan was given a promise by Shane that he would have a trip to Doonbeg for the Irish Open.

And true to his word, Shane met up again with Declan on Wednesday.

This was during the pro-am in advance of the Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg.

and he joked about Declan taking the day off school to get a tour of the grounds.

So it was a lovely moment, and it just shows the big heart that Shane Lowry has.

You win the amateur championship, one of the great titles in world golf.

You help Ireland win the European Amateur Team Championship for the first time in 18 years.

Let's look ahead to the weekend and sport and join us from Doonbeg is our own Derek Lynch.

Derek, good morning to you.

Good morning from a beautifully sunny, gorgeous West Clare, Alan.

Make sure you check that out.

Derek, thank you for joining us.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend in Doonbeg for the golf.

Well, what sort of a person, how did you find him?

Well, I mean, one-to-one personally, he's quite affable And I took the precaution of playing the, uh, Dun- Doonbeg golf course before I went to America.

So I was able to chat to him about that, and he's, he's inordinately proud of his, uh, of his golf courses, of his properties generally, but especially the golf courses.

And I really think that he sees Doonbeg as the jewel in the crown of his golf, you know, business.

And so I met him in Mar-a-Lago once, and he was very pleasant and very, very affable and, you know, um.

So, now, I wouldn't like to get on the wrong side of him.

Finally, let's talk golf, Luke.

Big golfing weekend, Irish Open, Dunbeg, US Presidents, etc, etc, etc.

Yeah, and it's all eyes on Shane Lowry at the moment because he's birdied his last three holes and he leads the way on six under par.

We can't forget that Lowry, of course, I suppose, sprung to stardom back in 2009, winning the Irish Open as an amateur, part of only three golfers ever to...